Wasim Akram is at his vintage best. Backed by Akram's brilliant allround performance Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 34 runs to set up a meeting with South Africa in the final of the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Cricket Sixes 2001, being played at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, on Sunday. Sri Lanka will meet England to decide who takes the number three and four spots.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Imran Nazir hit four huge sixes in making 27 runs off nine balls. Wasim Akram had to retire not out after making 36* off just 10 balls, smashing four sixes and two boundaries. Afridi 20* off seven balls and Abdur Razzaq 13* off six balls took Pakistan to 107/1. Alomost all Sri Lankan bowlers suffered in the avalanche of runs, Liyanage was the most expensive (1-0-35-0).

Sri Lanka were never in the run chase against a competent Pakistani bowling attack. wasim Akram bowled yet another brilliant over (1-0-4-0), which effectively choked the Sri Lankans. Skipper Hathurusingha made 27 off 14 balls and gifted his wicket to the off spinner Shoaib Malik. de Saram remained unbeaten on 29 off 14 balls, giving him company at the end was Wanasinghe on 10* off 3 balls. Sri Lanka could only manage to score 73/1 off their five overs.

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