Lanka two points from Dhaka

Opener Wajahatullah Wasti struck his maiden Test century making 133 as Pakistan, having already sealed their place in the final at Dhaka from March 12 to 16, went after the Sri Lankan attack.

The islanders cashed in fully by raking in all the four bowling bonus points with paceman Pramodya Wickremasinghe returning a career-best haul of 103 for six wickets.

Sri Lanka, whose chances of gaining the seven points required to make the final at thecost of India (10 points from two matches) looked remote going into the match, added their first batting point when they reached 150.

With 48.2 overs sent down by Pakistan, Sri Lanka have to make 111 runs in 51.4 overs with six wickets in hand to gain two more batting points to clinch the final spot ahead of India, the third team in the inaugural competition.

The Lankan innings looked set to nosedive as Saqlain Mushtaq took three for 45 to leave them struggling at 156 for four. But the star off-spinner went off reportedly indisposed and complaining of a muscle pull to ease Sri Lankan pressure.

Sri Lanka, needing three batting points to clinch the seven needed from the last league tie to make the final, got off to a rousing start with left-hander Gunewardene cutting loose against rookie paceman Fazle Akbar, who went for 41 runs in his first four overs and rarely gained any respect.

Gunewardene struck a delightful 43 before hooking Akbar to Shahid Nazir at deep fine leg. Mahela Jayawardene, whose 242frustrated India at Colombo, fell to Saqlain for four and the crafty spinner also claimed Marvan Atapattu (23) and stand-in skipper Hashan Tillekeratne (9).

But wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana (20 not out) stayed put to raise Sri Lankan hopes for a final berth.

Earlier, Wasti came on top of the uninspired Sri Lankan attack to reach his maiden hundred. Wasti batted for over five and half hours, (218b, 18×4, 2×6).

The consistent Youhana cracked his seventh Test fifty making 83 off 152 balls (11×4, 1×6) and wicketkeeper Moin Khan made a swashbuckling 57 (53b, 7×4, 3×6) to push the hosts towards the 400-run mark.

Wickremasinghe, spearheading the attack in the absence of better known teammates, surpassed his previous best of five for 73 with his six wicket haul.

Sri Lanka can get their second batting point at 225 and the third if they make 300 in 100 overs. They can clinch the final spot even if they reach 293 in 100 overs as they enjoy a better run rate than India.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan (1stinnings, overnight 192-3): Saeed Anwar b Wickremasinghe 0, Wajahatullah Wasti run out 133, Imran Nazir c de Silva b Wickremasinghe 64, Inzamam-ul-Haq b Wickremasinghe 0, Yousaf Youhanna c&b Kalpage 83, Shahid Afridi c Gunawardene b Kalpage 0, Moin Khan lbw Wickremasinghe 57, Saqlain Mushtaq c de Silva b Bandarathilake 15, Wasim Akram c Arnold b Wickremasinghe 4, Shahid Nazir c Atapattu b Wickremasinghe 10, Fazl-e-Akbar not out 15. Extras (b2, lb11, nb4): 17. Total (all out in 102 overs) 398

Fall Of Wickets: 1-0, 2-105, 3-105, 4-283, 5-283, 6-302,7-323, 8-339, 9-373.

Bowling: Wickremasinghe 29-7-103-6, S de Silva 14-0-88-0, Hathurasinghe 12-3-29-0, Bandarathilake 31-8-90-1, Kalpage 16-2-75-2.

Sri Lanka (first innings): Russel Arnold batting 81, Avishka Gunawardene c Nazir b Akbar 43, Mahela Jayawardene b Saqlain 4, Marvan Atapattu c Youhanna b Saqlain 23, Hashan Tillekeratne b Saqlain 9, Romesh Kaluwitharana batting 20; Extras (lb5, nb4): 9. Total (for 4 wkts in48.2 overs): 189

Fall Of Wickets: 1-84, 2-91, 3-146, 4-156

Bowling: Akram 7-2-21-0, Akbar 14-2-72-1, Nazir 8-1-30-0, Saqlain 13-2-45-3, Afridi 6.2-1-16-0.