Before the game commence Sri Lanka's chances of entering the final was very good while Pakistan were in with a slim chance.
But when Sri Lanka won the toss and put Pakistan in, they began positively and what a run riot they indulged in. After a 60 run stand for the first wicket between Anwar and Elahi, all hell broke loose when 16-year-old Shahid Afridi having his first bat in big cricket played an innings that will long be remembered and will take a long time to beat.
Flown in as replacement for the injured Mushtaq Ahmed from the West Indies where he was playing for the under 19 team, Afridi who it is said was hitting the ball out of the ground at the nets was sent in as pinch hitter and what hitting it was.
All his shots came from the meat of the bat and the sixes he hit sailed well out of the ground. When a batsman is in this mood there is very little that a captain, bowler or fielder can do.
Afridi missed by one run to break Jayasuriya's fastest 50 in one-day cricket, butt established and grabbed the 100 run record from Jayasuriya when he made the three figure mark in 37 balls. His innings was studded with 11 sixes and 6 fours.
The large crowd at the ground lapped up this innings, because it was a gem while it lasted.
Skipper Saeed Anwar too played a great captain's knock. His centaury was overshadowed by Afridi's innings. But it was his innings that was the rock on which the huge Pakistan total and victory was built.
Anwar and Afridi were involved in a hectic stand of 126 in 61 balls.
When Pakistan made 371 for 9 in their 50 overs, Sri Lanka did not have to win. They had to make 290 to make it to the finals on the run rate. But that they fell short by one run is nothing to be ashamed of.
After losing four of their top batsmen for 26 runs, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and vice captain Aravinda de Silva pulled the game around fifth wicket stand of 124 before Ranatunga went for nicely played knock. His 50 came in 46 balls with 9 fours and a six.
Aravinda de Silva once again played like the master that he is. He took on all responsibility and there is no doubt that he will be bracketed with the best batsmen in the world after this marvellous innings. His 100 came off 90 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes.
If Arjuna and Aravinda brought Sri Lanka into the game, then the innings from Kumara Dharmasena will also be writ in letters of gold. He too has matured a lot and it was a pity that these three - Aravinda, Arjuna and Kumara failed to bring Sri Lanka a famous victory.
With Sri Lanka requiring 11 off the last Waqar Younis over, Chaminda Vaas lofted him for a huge six and followed it up with a four. With two balls remaining and one run to get to the target Vaas played all over a yorker from the experienced Waqar and was bowled. Waqar finished with 5 for 52.
But the bowler who changed the game and put Pakistan on the road to victory was off spinner Mushtaq who had the wickets of Dharmasena and Muralitharan in one over.
Whatever the pundits may say, the final winner was that wonderful game of cricket. Records will show that Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs. The show while it lasted was exciting, nail biting and had spectators on the edge of their seats.