Pakistan v Sri Lanka

At Sharjah, April 17 (day/night). Pakistan won by 217 runs. Toss: Pakistan.

The 20,000 hollering fans saw a colourful but one-sided spectacle. After elbowing Pakistan aside in both qualifiers, Sri Lanka were trampled underfoot. Waqar Younis won an important toss, and Imran Nazir made a smash-and-grab 63 off 61 balls. However, the real damage was done by Yousuf Youhana, with a career-best 129, and Younis Khan. Darting between the wickets for ones and twos, they sentenced Sri Lanka to the death of a thousand cuts. With Muralitharan in hospital after tearing shoulder ligaments - on his 30th birthday - no one could staunch the flow. The pair put on 155 before perishing in successive balls, aiming for the leg-side ropes. At 52 for one from nine overs, Sri Lanka were on course, but they were soon buffeted by quality quick bowling: Jayasuriya, pulling, and Sangakkara, fencing, were both beaten for pace by Shoaib Akhtar. The middle order capitulated with shocking speed. Sri Lanka, minus Murali, were all out inside 17 overs for 78, their second-lowest one-day total.

Man of the Match: Yousuf Youhana.
of the Series: M. S. Atapattu.