DAMBULLA - Pakistan have grabbed a place in Friday night's tri-series final with a thrilling 22-run win over New Zealand tonight.
The win pushed hosts Sri Lanka out of the final. New Zealand were already assured of playing the final irrespective of tonight's result.
Chasing Pakistan's 203 for nine, New Zealand wilted
to be dismissed for 181 with 11 balls left unbowled.
Scott Styris top scored with 46, while Chris Cairns and Chris Nevin each hit 28 and Chris Harris 24, but the tail folded. Speedster Shoaib Akhtar took the final wicket, when Kyle Mills skied a slog to be caught close in.
Akhtar finished with three for 36, while fellow new-ball bowler Mohammad Sami took three for 34 and young legspinner Danesh Kaneria three for 31.
Earlier, New Zealand's scratchy, under-strength bowling attack suffered the ignominy of conceding the highest individual and team score of the tri-series.
On a pitch still offering more than enough for the bowlers, New Zealand took regular wickets but were flayed by Shoaib Malik, who cracked 74 off 72 balls, just the second half-century in six matches at the tournament.
The 50-over total was the highest recorded in seven matches at the new Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, which has been marred by substandard pitches and had previously seen no team top 200.
New Zealand had reduced Pakistan to 108 for six in the 38th over before Malik, no stranger to New Zealand after scoring a matchwinning one-day century against them in Lahore a year ago, helped Abdur Razzaq add 71 off 55 balls for the seventh wicket. Akhtar nudged Pakistan past 200 with a rapid unbeaten 18.
In reply, New Zealand openers Stephen Fleming and Nevin safely negotiated Akhtar's typically fiery opening spell. However Fleming, who looked in good touch, touched an edge to wicketkeeper Rashid Latif off Sami on 17. New man Lou Vincent lasted five balls and Nevin skied legspinner Kaneria to be caught at deep mid-wicket.
After Cairns, Styris and Harris departed New Zealand fell quickly, having been 160 for four at one point.
On Monday, Daniel Vettori bagged career-best figures in his 109th one-day international to make sure his team made the final with a nine-run win. New Zealand reached only 156 for eight off their 50 overs but once Vettori's first ball hit the top of lefthander Kumar Sangakkara's off stump he never looked back.
- NZPA
