Sri Lanka produce surprise
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Your support makes all the difference.Sri Lanka took advantage of Pakistan's unhappy state to knock the World Cup holders out of the Asia Cup with a remarkable win yesterday in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates. Needing 179 off 33 overs against Pakistan to qualify to face India in the final, the Sri Lankans got home with two overs and five wickets to spare.
Roshan Mahanama compiled 48 at one end while at the other the left-handed Sanath Jayasuriya raced to 30 off 15 balls - including four fours and a six - before being caught at deep square leg. Aravinda De Silva and the captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, made 23 each before Hashan Tillekaratne sealed victory by swinging off-spinner Arshad Khan over long-on for six.
Earlier, Pakistan had made 178 for 9 off 50 overs after the Sri Lankan seamers, Champaka Ramanayake and Chaminda Vaas, had them tottering on 38 for 5 in the 19th over. The left-armer Vaas gave away just seven runs in six overs after removing the dangerous Aamir Sohail with the third delivery of the innings and the experienced Ramanayake sent back the captain, Saeed Anwar, and Asif Mujtaba in his first seven overs in which he conceded 14 runs.
Inzamam-ul-Haq saved the innings with a careful 73 before being caught behind.
ASIA CUP (Sharjah, UAE): Pakistan 178-9 (50 overs; Inzamam-ul-Haq 73); Sri Lanka 180-5 (30.5 overs). Sri Lanka won by five wickets.
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