Pakistan into the final with 22-run victory

Powered by a rapid 74 from Shoaib Malik - the highest score of the tournament - and some incisive pace bowling from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, Pakistan clinched a 22-run victory over New Zealand in the last group match of the Bank Alfalah Cup, thus setting up a rematch in the final on May 23.

Sri Lanka, whose players spent the day relaxing in the blue waters of China Bay, praying for a New Zealand victory, thereby failed to qualify for a home tri-series final for the first time ever.

Had they been watching TV, they might have believed that New Zealand were going to keep them in the tournament. Stephen Fleming's side recovered from some early hiccups to close in on the target, only for wickets to fall in a heap at the finish.

Fleming and Chris Nevin survived the first barrage with the new ball - adding 36 on 10.1 overs - ducking and weaving against Shoaib Akhtar, who worked up a ferocious pace. However, it was Mohammad Sami who broke through in his second spell, as Fleming, who had earlier swatted him for a six in front of square, edged a catch to the wicketkeeper (36 for 1).

Lou Vincent could have been run out without scoring when he scampered through for a quick single first ball, but the miss did not prove costly as he made a misjudgment and shuffled too far across his stumps to an offbreak from Mohammad Hafeez (40 for 2).

Nevin and Scott Styris knuckled down for a while, adding 31 in 67 balls. But with the run rate starting to climb, Nevin tried to slog-sweep away the pressure away. But he only miscued a Danish Kaneria delivery to be caught on the midwicket boundary by Sami. Nevin made 28 from 67 balls (71 for 3).

The pitch, which was heavily watered on the previous evening, did not deteriorate into the dustbowl that had made strokeplay virtually impossible during the previous two games. And New Zealand duly pushed on, with Scott Styris and Chris Cairns adding 42 in 71 balls.

Even when Cairns was dismissed for 28 - bowled by a Kaneria googly that zipped back through the gate - New Zealand were homing in. Styris, who top scored with 46 from 99 balls, and Chris Harris ticked along at nearly a run-a-ball during a 47-run stand.

However, with New Zealand suddenly back in front for the first time since reducing Pakistan to 61 for 4 in the morning, Rashid Latif called back his frontline pace bowlers. Akhtar and Sami then made sure that there would be no more comebacks for New Zealand.

Two balls after pulling an imperious four, Harris was trapped leg-before for 24 by Sami - a dubious decision with the ball hitting high on the pad. Next over, Brendon McCullum was caught at slip for a duck off Akhtar to leave New Zealand on 161 for 6 in the 45th over.

Latif turned back to spin, and the decision paid immediate dividends as Styris was caught on the boundary in the 46th over. Daniel Vettori (4), batting with a runner, edged behind and Paul Wiseman (2) had his stumps flattened by Sami.

When Akhtar wrapped up the victory, New Zealand - who at one stage needed only 44 runs from 37 balls - had lost their last six wickets for just 21 runs. Akhtar claimed 3 for 36 from 9.1 overs, with Sami claiming 3 for 34 from nine.

Earlier, Pakistan, put into bat by Fleming, had Malik to thank for a spectacular late revival. Crucial partnerships with Younis Khan for the fifth wicket (41 in 71 balls) and Abdul Razzaq for the seventh (71 in 55 balls) resurrected the innings, and in the final overs, Malik pressed his foot firmly down on the accelerator, smacking eight fours and one six.

Pakistan plundered 76 precious runs in the last 10 overs. Like Brendon McCullum had done yesterday against Sri Lanka, Malik had transformed a below-par total into a matchwinning one.