August 16  
Pakistan down Sri Lanka in Morocco Cup 

TANGIERS: Waqar Younis' Pakistan celebrated their country's Independence Day with a 28-run win over Sri Lanka in the three-nation Morocco Cup here on Wednesday. 

The Pakistanis piled up 279 for five from their 50 overs after being given first strike and then restricted Sri Lanka to 251 for eight at the Tangiers cricket stadium. 

All-rounder Abdul Razzaq demolished the Sri Lankans with three for 36 while Wasim Akram claimed two for 56. It was Pakistan's first win in the 250,000-dollar event after going down to South Africa by 54 runs in Monday's opening match. 

The Pakistanis assembled on the field before the start of play to sing the national anthem, marking the 55th anniversary of their country's independence from British rule. 

Their total revolved around three half-centuries, the most notable being a belligerent 56 not out by Younis Khan off just 39 balls, which made the difference at the end. 

Left-handed Saeed Anwar hit 70 and Inzamam-ul Haq 63 as Pakistan scoffed at Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya's decision to field first in overcast conditions. 

It was Anwar's 42nd half-century in one-day cricket from 234 matches, while Inzamam moved to 62 fifties from 270 games. But the hard-hitting display by Younis and Abdul Razzaq towards the end of the innings overshadowed the senior batsmen. 

Abdul Razzaq remained unbeaten on 29 off 11 balls as Pakistan clubbed 45 runs in the last three overs, including 25 in the final over bowled by left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas. 

Vaas finished with one for 61, conceding three sixes, one boundary, two singles and a wide in his 10th over. 

Younis hit five boundaries and two sixes, while Razzaq smashed two fours and two sixes before the overs ran out.
 
"The last 10 overs really helped us," Pakistani captain Waqar Younis said. 

"Younis Khan gets better with each match, but we also had very good contributions from Anwar and Inzamam. It was a great team effort." 

Jayasuriya blamed the defeat on both the batsmen and bowlers. 

"Our bowlers need to be more consistent," he said. "They bowl well at the start, but undo the good work at the end. 

"We allowed Pakistan too many runs in the slog overs. Then the batsmen failed to build on the starts. We have to get 70 or 80 after settling in." 

Sri Lanka got off to a sound reply as Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu hammered 55 for the first wicket by the ninth over. Jayasuriya hit 36 off 33 balls before falling to a brilliant catch at point by Imran Nazir, who made amends for fumbling an easy catch in the same position against Atapattu. 

Atapattu then added 61 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara, but ruined his team's chances by groping to 42 in 31 overs. Frustrated by his inability to push the score, Atapattu lofted Shahid Afridi to long-off where Abdul Razzaq took a low catch. 

Upul Chandana, promoted to number five in a bid to force the pace, smashed Afridi for a six, but holed out against Waqar to reduce Sri Lanka to 161 for four in the 36th over. 

It soon became 191 for six as Mahela Jayawardena (32) and Aravinda De Silva (two) fell in quick succession. Russel Arnold and Vaas delayed the end with a 58-run stand for the seventh wicket. 

Vaas smashed 31 off 25 balls, while Arnold remained unbeaten on 37. Sri Lanka return on Thursday to take on South Africa in their second match.