England A crash out of triangular series

England A crashed out of the triangular tournament with a whimper, as Pakistan A defeated them by 114 runs at Moratuwa. Sri Lanka A will now face Pakistan A in the final on Tuesday, but they will face a stern test: Pakistan have won all four of their group matches.

Faisal Athar and Aamer Bashir set up Pakistan's latest triumph, their unbroken stand of 168 lifting their side to 239 after a stodgy start from the top order, who were limping along at little more three an over. But Faisal and Aamer floored the accelerator when Ashar Zaidi's dismissal brought them together in the 21st over, Ashar making a painstaking yet painful 17 from 69 balls.

There was no such hanging around for the fourth-wicket pairing: Faisal struck an unbeaten 102 from 133 balls and Aamer joined in the fun, bashing 65 not out from 79 balls.

England's batsman struggled from the outset and the writing was on the wall at 25 for 4, the opening pace attack of Mohammad Asif and Abdur Rauf taking two wickets each. Imran Tahir then helped himself to the next three wickets to kill off England's slim hopes (71 for 7). Dawson and Paul Franks gestured at revival, putting on 38 for the eighth wicket, but it was too little too late and England slumped to 125 all out.