August 18  
SL thrash Pakistan in Morocco Cup

TANGIERS: Captain Sanath Jayasuriya led from the front as Sri Lanka brushed aside Pakistan by 39 runs on Saturday to virtually assure themselves a place in the final of the Morocco Cup here. The pugnacious left-hander smashed 97 off 94 balls to help Sri Lanka recover to 242 after a shaky start, before Pakistan were sent packing for 203 in 43.4 overs.

Young seamer Pulasthi Gunaratne grabbed four for 44 in only his fourth one-dayer, while experienced new ball partner Chaminda Vaas claimed three for 30.

With two wins from three matches and a bonus point in the bag from the previous win against South Africa, Sri Lanka lead the preliminary league table in the 250,000-dollar event.

Jayasuriya's men can now be denied a place in the final only if Pakistan beat South Africa on Sunday and the South Africans defeat Sri Lanka on Monday - both by bonus-point winning margins.

Sri Lanka would have clinched a place in the final on Saturday itself if they had bowled out Pakistan for 193 and secured a bonus point. They appeared on target when Pakistan slumped to 179-9, but were frustrated by lusty hitting from Shahid Afridi.

Afridi, who made 26 off 16 balls, lofted Vaas for two sixes before being held in the deep attempting another big hit off Gunaratne. The Sri Lankans, playing their third match in four days, showed no signs of fatigue after Jayasuriya won the toss and expectedly elected to bat on the slow wicket.

The left-hander smashed 12 boundaries and a six, steering Sri Lanka out of early trouble after three wickets had fallen for 53 by the 14th over.

Jayasuriya missed his 13th one-day century by three runs when Wasim Akram, returning for his second spell in the 35th over, trapped the batsman leg-before with his second delivery.

Yousuf Youhana was the lone Pakistani to emulate Jayasuriya's dogged approach, making 80 off 91 balls amidst reckless strokeplay from the other end.

Veteran Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul Haq and Younis Khan were caught in the outfield off loose strokes, while Imran Nazir was bowled playing a cross-batted shot.

Pakistan were tottering at 57-4 in the 20th over before Abdul Razzaq joined Youhana to put on 70 for the fifth wicket. Razzaq was trapped leg-before by Muttiah Muralitharan for 25 and Pakistan's hopes dimmed further when Youhana edged a drive off Gunaratne to wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara in the 38th over. Earlier, Pakistani captain Waqar Younis claimed 3-43 and Akram and Razzaq took two wickets each as Sri Lanka were bowled out with one delivery to spare.

Jayawardena (43) was the only other batsman to shine, helping Jayasuriya add 111 for the fourth wicket off 117 balls.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 208-7 by the 44th as Razzaq claimed Upul Chandana and Mohammad Sami removed Chaminda Vaas in similar fashion. Russel Arnold hit 34 towards the end, but fell to Waqar before Sri Lanka reached a commanding total.