PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA

At Perth, December 31 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by three wickets. Toss: Pakistan. Playing on the ground on which they lost to Western Australia two days earlier, Pakistan nevertheless took time to adjust to the bounce of the pitch and the speed of the ball over the outfield. Three run-outs testified to their misjudgements, with the dismissals of Mansoor in the nineteenth over and Saeed in the 32nd being crucial. When fourth out, Aamer Malik had taken 122 balls over his 69, which left Miandad and Imran to try to raise the run-rate against tight bowling from Labrooy and Ratnayeke. A splendid 60 from 89 balls by Samarasekera against some ineffectual bowling gave Sri Lanka the start they needed, De Silva controlled the innings in its later stages, and finally the injured Mahanama guided his country to their third one-day victory in Australia. Both sides were fined for their slow over-rates.

Man of the Match: M. A. R. Samarasekera.

Attendance: 4,009.