An opening stand of 90 between Saeed Anwar and Imran Nazir set Pakistan up for a semi-final berth in the ICC KnockOut tournament as last year's World Cup finalists cantered after a winning target of 195 on Sunday.

Despite the best efforts of six Sri Lankan bowlers, the only wicket to fall in the first 25 overs came by way of a run out as Pakistan moved to 115 for one. Saeed had reached 54 at this stage while Yousuf Youhana was on 14.

There were few alarms for the Pakistan opening pair as they moved serenely to 75 off the first 15 overs. Both Imran and Saeed had appeals against them for run outs following direct hits on the stumps, but in each occasion, when replays were called for, the batsmen were seen to be well inside their ground.

The closest Sri Lanka came to getting one of the batsmen off the field, in fact, came when a throw from Aviska Gunawardena struck Imran on the wrist as he scampered through for a single. Imran writhed around on the ground in agony for some time and received treatment before continuing batting.

There was little sympathy for him from the Sri Lankan fielders who thought the incident terribly funny, as did, it must be said, Imran's partner Saeed.

Finally, though, the Sri Lankans did effect a run out in the 18th over when Marvan Atapattu's throw beat Imran to wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana and the replay proved that the batsman was still short of the crease.

The first wicket had fallen on 90 with Imran out for a 40 that came off 47 balls and included five boundaries.

Yousuf Youhana joined Saeed to see his partner bring up his personal 50, off 71 deliveries, and the Sri Lankan 100 with a single off Upul Chandana in the 22nd over of the innings.

After five bowlers had failed to take a wicket for Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya brought himself into the attack in the 23rd over. The response of Yousuf was to hoist him into the grandstand at long-on.

© CricInfo Ltd