Pakistan coast into semi-final on bat of Saeed

Saeed Anwar struck an unbeaten century as Pakistan powered into the semi-finals of the ICC Knockout tournament with a nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka here yesterday.

Saeed Anwar struck an unbeaten century as Pakistan powered into the semi-finals of the ICC Knockout tournament with a nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka here yesterday.

Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood claimed three wickets apiece as the Sri Lankans were dismissed for 194 in 45.4 overs, the lowest score of the tournament.

Saeed's 105 not out then guided Pakistan to victory with more than six overs to spare with assistance coming from Imran Nazir, who was run out for 40 off 47 balls, and Yousuf Youhana, who finished undefeated on 42.

Sri Lanka, who won the toss and opted the bat, had made a terrible start which was in stark contrast to their 108-run victory over the West Indies in the preliminary round.

Aviska Gunawardene, who scored a century in that game, and Marvan Attapattu were out in the first four overs before their side had reached double figures.

There were only two stands of note. Sanath Jayasuriya, top scorer with 39, shared a third-wicket stand of 55 with Mahela Jayawardena and Russel Arnold (38) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (27) put on 56 for the sixth wicket.

Pakistan will play the winner of today's quarter-final between New Zealand and Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka won toss

SRI LANKA

*S T Jayasuriya c Moin b Wasim 39 D A Gunawardene b Wasim 5 M S Atapattu c Moin b Azhar 0 D P M Jayawardene run out 11 K Sangakkara b Abdur 19 R P Arnold c Moin b Azhar 38 ÿR S Kaluwitharana lbw b Azhar 27 W P U J C Vaas c Nazir b Saqlain 11 U D U Chandana not out 13 D N T Zoysa b Saqlain 10 M Muralitharan b Wasim 0 Extras (lb7, w9, nb5) 21 Total (45.4 overs) 194

Fall: 1-7, 2-8, 3-63, 4-76, 5-100, 6-156, 7-159, 8-179, 9-191.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 7.4-2-40-3; Azhar Mahmood 10-0-52-3; Abdur Razzaq 10-1-30-1; Saqlain Mushtaq 8-0-30-2; Arshad Khan 10-1-35-0.

PAKISTAN

Saeed Anwar not out 105 Imran Nazir run out 40 Yousuf Youhana not out 42 Extras (lb1, w2, nb5) 8 Total (for 1, 43.2 overs) 195

Fall: 1-90

Did not bat: Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, *ÿMoin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Arshad Khan.

Bowling: Vaas 10-0-42-0; Zoysa 7-0-44-0; Arnold 5-0-19-0; Muralitharan 10-1-39-0; Chandana 8.2-1-34-0; Jayasuriya 3-0-16-0

Umpires: D L Orchard (SA) and P Willey (Eng).