Sri Lanka strode to a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the fourth match of a three-nation one-day tournament in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
Sri Lanka dismissed the Zimbabweans for 104 after choosing to bowl in windy conditions and completed victory in just 18.1 overs to secure their first win of the tournament.
"We played terribly today," Zimbabwe coach Phil Simmons said. "We are taking two steps forward and one step backward.
"We give a good performance in one match, get complacent and undo the good work."
Hosts Pakistan have already qualified for the October 16 final while Sri Lanka now have seven points from two games with Zimbabwe on one bonus point from three defeats.
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe meet again on Monday to decide who plays in the final.
The Sri Lankans made easy work of their target thanks to a blistering 40 from 30 balls from former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who hit six fours and a six and put on 49 with fellow opener Saman Jayantha (21).
Having bowled out Zimbabwe in only 33 overs -- nine of their batsmen failed to reach double figures -- Sri Lanka faced 10 overs before lunch and raced to 56 for one.
On resumption Jayasuriya savaged Elton Chigumbura, hitting him for a six and two boundaries in three balls before losing his leg stump.
Chigumbura was Zimbabwe's best bowler with two for 18 from three overs.
Scoreboard:
Zimbabwe
S. Matsikenyeri b Maharoof 37
B. Taylor c Sangakkara b Zoysa 3
V. Sibanda c Jayantha b Maharoof 7
D. Ebrahim not out 24
M. Vermeulen c Atapattu b Fernando 7
T. Taibu lbw Vaas 0
E. Chigumbura c and b Chandana 1
M. Nkala c Atapattu b Vaas 1
T. Panyangara lbw Chandana 2
P. Utseya b Fernando 1
E. Rainsford b Chandana 5
Extras (lb-1, w-11, nb-4) 16
Total (all out in 33 overs) 104
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-54, 3-55, 4-72, 5-72, 6-73, 7-76, 8-84, 9-94.
Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 8-0-20-2 (nb-1), Nuwan Zoysa 6-1-24-1 (nb-1, w-2), Farveez Maharoof 5-3-11-2, Dilhara Fernando 8-1-33-2 (nb-2, w-6), Upul Chandana 6-0-15-3 (w-3).
Sri Lanka
S.Jayantha c Taibu b Chigumbura 21
S.Jayasuriya b Chigumbura 40
T.Dilshan not out 26
U.Chandana b Panyangara 7
Farveez Maharoof not out 7
Extras (lb-1, w-6) 7
Total (for three wickets, 18.1 overs) 108
Did not bat: Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, , Dilhara Fernando.
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-70, 3-96
Bowling: Panyangara 8-1-36-1 (w-1), Rainsford 5-0-31-0 (w-1), Chigumbura 3-0-18-2 (w-1), Nkala 2.1-0-22-0 (w-3)
Result: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets
Next match Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe on October 11.
