At Sharjah, April 12 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by nine runs. Sri Lanka 4 pts. Toss: Sri Lanka.
Nerveless and disciplined bowling from Vaas and Zoysa won the game. With Wasim Akram
crashing the ball to all corners, Pakistan needed 19 from their final three overs, but managed only
nine, cramped by relentlessly straight bowling. The real blame lay with the sluggardly batting of
the top order, who crawled to 87 for three in 25 overs. Chandana ran out Imran Nazir with a
direct hit from point, then took a tricky return catch off Inzamam-ul-Haq. Earlier, Sri Lanka were
drowning at 41 for four but were rescued by Atapattu's patience. He played the straight man to
the cheekier Chandana, who whacked 64 off 58 balls in a stand of 107. Shoaib Akhtar bowled
the fastest ball yet recorded - 99mph - but it was the discipline of Vaas and Zoysa that told in
the end.
Man of the Match: M. S. Atapattu.