By the end of the 30th over, Sri Lanka had reached 141 that meant Pakistan conceded just 59 runs between over No 16 and 30, picking up the vital wicket of Sangakkara. As a result, the run rate climbed up to around seven runs an over, making the task really steep for the Lankans.

Sangakkara's wicket, top edging the pull with Wasim Akram taking a good catch at square leg, was of crucial importance. Sangakkara (38, 53 balls, 5 fours) was by far the more enterprising partner in the second wicket stand of 61. He got out in the main because flow of runs had dried up. That the bowlers was ascendant during this period is reflected in the fact that Razzaq and Afridi bowled a maiden apiece and there were only two fours between overs 16 and 30.

Sami bowled a lively pace, mostly in the region 140 - 145 kph, and with a lot of control. Razzaq too was spot-on, while Afridi too was economical. This was in sharp contrast to the figures of Waqar Younis (5 overs, none for 38) and Wasim Akram (6 overs, one for 29).

Success in stopping the flow of runs was of crucial importance, and with the asking rate consistently getting higher, the pressure and anxiety level of the Lankans was also on the rise. Difficult circumstances these for the remaining Lankan batsmen, and unless a couple of them play rapidfire innings, it was unlikely that they would stop Pakistan's charge for their maiden win on this venue.

At the end of the 15th over, Sri Lanka's chase was going quite well at 82 for one wicket, that of Jayasuriya snapped up by Wasim Akram after the full-blooded drive was caught well by Imran Nazir at point.

It could easily have been two wickets instead of one, had Nazir, normally the safest of Pakistan fielders, not spilled a relatively easy chance of Marvan Atapattu off Akram.

It was the highest tally at the end of the 15th over by any team in this event so far. Jayasuriya started off by whacking Younis to square third man and covers for boundaries and repeated the dose to point and through the covers the next over. Such was the predominance of the bat over the ball that the 50 of the innings was brought up in only 7. Jayasuriya pulled Akram to square-leg for four, but Akram had his own back when he got him next ball.

Afterwards, Sangakkara and Atapattu, the former more aggressive than the latter, kept it going though with Sami and Razzaq bowling in tandem, the run rate dropped a trifle, from way above six, close to five and a half.

They would need to stay on course till the very end to overhaul the target.

A great finish, as the last 10 overs yielded 99 runs, a few too many for Sanath Jayasuriya's comfort for he had won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat. Despite Saeed Anwar (70, off 77 deliveries, 7 fours, 1 six) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (63, off 95 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) posting attractive fifties, the Lankans had things pretty much under control. That is until Younis and Razzaq went after the bowling in a tremendous display of powerful stroke-making. In the process, figures of Chaminda Vaas (26 for 1 off 8, and 61 for 1 off 10 overs) and Pulsathy Gunaratne stood destroyed.

In sharp contrast to the previous match, the Pakistanis were intent on playing more organised, sensible cricket, and got the partnerships going. And though there were a few soft dismissals (Youhana, Afridi and Anwar), but the innings never lost the momentum only because these came after decent gaps.

With his career in serious jeopardy, Anwar made his 42nd score of 50-plus, his first major innings since his comeback. It was a cautious, workmanlike innings, yet interspersed with some vintage Anwar strokes. He predominantly scored on the off-side, as he does when he is not short of self-confidence.

He started off with a four off Gunaratne in the covers, an exquisite drive reminiscent of his prime, lost his partner Imran Nazir, leg before on a Vaas delivery that pitched on the leg-stump and veered in to find him plumb in front. But Anwar in partnership with Youhana went on and on. And once Youhana (32, 55 balls, 4 fours) was gone, quite needlessly fiddling with a Fernando delivery outside the off-stump with Sangakkara taking the catch behind the stumps, Anwar carried on with Inzamam at the other end.

After he had clouted Chandana for a six to square-leg and a four to point in the same over, the bowler finally had his revenge by getting him through an inside edge. Afridi, promoted in the order, swept Jayasuriya out of the ground but then threw caution to the winds on the first delivery after the break against Muralitharan, hoiking it straight down the throat of widish square-leg.

Inzamam in the meanwhile hit Chandana for a six before he got to his 62nd fifty, extending the world record for scores of 50-plus. When he got out, the bottom edge sending the ball skywards, Younis and Razzaq came together.

Younis, the most improved one-day batsman of the recent times, was already scoring at better than a run ball. Razzaq did even better, scoring at better than two per delivery. Between them, they hit four sixes and seven fours and made the last Vaas over count for 25 to take Pakistan to 279 - an extremely competitive total on a good batting wicket.

On the other end, Inzamam too exuded confidence, starting off with a four off Fernando, with a thumping cover drive. He hit Gunaratne to the point boundary and lifted Chandana straight for the first six of the innings.

But it was Anwar who wascalling the shots, and he reached his 50 with a single pushed down the leg side. His 50 came off just 58deliveries, with 6 fours. An innings of some determination for his place in the side was definitely in jeopardy.

In association with Inzamam, the pair had put together 47 runs, mostly through singles and twos. Understandably so, for it was Muralitharan in operation from the far end. And though Anwar took a four off him with a sweetly timed drive down to mid-wicket, caution was the better part of valour against Murali.

At 132 for 2, with 20 overs to go and plenty of batting to come, Pakistan barring a collapse seemed to be headed to a huge total.

Imran Nazir started off with great promise, with two exquisite drives for four off Chaminda Vaas in the opening over and Gunaratne at point. But then wily Vaas brought one in first ball in his next over, and Nazir was plumb in front going onto his backfoot.

Earlier, Waqar Younis may not have lamented over losing the toss as Sanath Jayasuriya put Pakistan in - something Younis would have opted for anyway.

Anwar and Youhana both seemed to have learnt a lesson from the defeat against South Africa, and played far more organised cicket, with much improved running between the wickets.

Anwar looked quite sharp and compact today, and save one edge induced by Dilhara Fernando which fell in front of second slip, his innings was not just flawless, but on occasion brilliant. Some of the shots that found the boundary in the covers and square off the wicket to Vaas, Gunaratne and Fernando had the stamp of vintage Anwar. Another measure of Anwar's confidence was the fact that he played most of his shots on the off side, and the strokes that he went for came off.

With Anwar in control, Youhana was willing to play second fiddle, and though he started off with a four down to fine leg against Vaas, and gloriously straight drove Gunaratne for another, for the most part he was his own typical accumulator self.