Pakistan 'A' set up a revenge clash with India 'A' after storming into the final with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the EurAsia Series limited-overs cricket tournament in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night.
Opener Mohammad Hafeez hit an unbeaten 105 to guide Pakistan past Sri Lanka's total of 209 with more than four overs to spare in the last Group 'D' engagement of the second league phase at the Sheikh Zayed stadium.
Captain Hasan Raza scored 62 not out and combined with Hafeez for the match-winning 110-run unbroken third-wicket partnership.
Pakistan had lost to arch-rivals India in a group match in the first league phase of the six-nation tournament.
The final will be played on Friday.
Earlier, Sri Lanka disintegrated from a comfortable 120 for two to be bowled out for 209 in 41 overs in the day-night clash.
An 89-run partnership for the third wicket between Malinda Warnapura and Kaushal Silva was the lone bright spot of the Sri Lankan innings that had extras of 42 as the second highest score.
Southpaw Warnapura scored a patient 49 from 71 balls, with six fours, while the right-handed Silva hit an accomplished 41 off 55 balls, inclusive of five fours.
Seamers Umar Gul, Samiullah Khan and Yasir Arafat and leg spinner Mansoor Amjad picked two wickets each.
Twenty-three-year old Samiullah (2-22) provided Pakistan with two early breakthroughs, dismissing openers Avishaka Gunawardene (1) and Ian Daniel (14) with only 31 on the board.
Warnapura and Silva resurrected the Sri Lankan innings before a double strike by Gul (2-45) turned the match on its head.
Gul accounded for Silva and Chamara Silva off successive balls, having the former caught behind by Zulqarnain Haider, and bowling the latter.
There was another double whammy in store when, on 158, Gayan Wijekoon and Warnapura were out to back-to-back deliveries off Amjad (2-48).
Lokuhettige Dilhara provided some late sparks with two fours and three sixes for a 30-ball 33 but Arafat (2-54) made sure the islanders did not run away with a big total.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 'A':
A Gunawardene c Raza b Samiullah Khan 1
I Daniel c Haider b Samiullah Khan 14
M Warnapura run out 49
K Silva c Haider b Umar Gul 41
C Silva b Umar Gul 0
G Wijekoon c Yousuf b Mansoor Amjad 17
M Kulatunga c Hameed b Mansoor Amjad 2
U Chandana run out 6
L Dilhara c Hameed b Yasir Arafat 33
S Weerakoon not out 3
A Ganegama lbw b Yasir Arafat 1
Extras: (lb 10, w 27, nb 5) 42
Total: (all out, 41 overs) 209
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-31 Daniel, 3-120, 4-120, 5-158, 6-158, 7-160, 8-184, 9-204.
Bowling: Umar Gul 9-0-45-2, Samiullah Khan 6-0-22-2, Yasir Arafat 9-0-54-2, Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-30-0, Mansoor Amjad 10-1-48-2.
Pakistan 'A':
Mohammad Hafeez not out 105
Yasir Hameed b Dilhara 8
Shahid Yousuf c and b Warnapura 26
Hasan Raza not out 62
Extras: (lb 2, w 6, nb 2) 10
Total: (for 2 wickets, 45.2 overs) 211
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-101.
Bowling: Wijekoon 6-0-26-0, Dilhara 5-1-23-1, Weerakoon 9.2-1-47-0, Ganegama 6-0-42-0, Warnapura 9-0-38-1, Chandana 10-0-32-0.
