Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets with 23.1 overs to spare in Sharjah yesterday to qualify for the final of the Champions' Trophy against the West Indies on Friday on a superior run rate.
All three teams finished the round-robin section with two victories apiece, but the West Indies and Sri Lanka advanced to the final with run rates of 5.17 and 5.05 per over, compared to Pakistan's 4.21.
Pakistan were always in deep trouble after being bowled out for 143. The absence of Aamir Sohail (sore shoulder), Inzamam-ul-Haq (groin) and Saeed Anwar (typhoid) had a telling effect and they lost wickets regularly after winning the toss, with the off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena taking 3 for 16.
Sri Lanka dealt comfortably with a wayward Pakistan attack, Roshan Mahanama leading the chase with an unbeaten 45 and Kent's Aravinda de Silva adding 35 not out off 33 balls.
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