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Pakistan got back into their winning ways with a commendable 28-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second game of the Morocco Cup Wednesday.

Pakistan, beaten by South Africa Monday, earned their success through a disciplined performance that displayed their firepower with the bat, athleticism in the field, and bite and penetration in bowling.

Put into bat by Sanath Jayasuriya, Pakistan rode on excellent half centuries from Saeed Anwar,Inzamam-ul-Haq and Man-of-the-Match Younis Khan to post an imposing 279 for five.

Waqar Younis's men restricted Sri Lanka to 251 for eight after they had made a breezy start by putting on 82 for one in the first 15 overs. Pakistan were, however, fined five per cent of their match fee for slow over-rate.

Saeed's return to his majestic best or Inzamam's ability to carry the innings through or Younis's and Abdul Razzaq's whirlwind finish with a ruthless slaughter of Sri Lankan bowlers in the death overs was no big surprise because they all are well capable of doing this.

Usually lethargic and lazy fielders were on their toes throughout the 50 overs. They backed their bowlers by cutting off ones and twos, held all the catches that came their way except Inzamam, who dropped Upal Chandana when the ball was lost in the sun, and Imran Nazir who grassed a sitter of Atapattu in the fifth over.

Also impressive was Pakistan's bowling in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar. After Jayasuriya (36 off 33) took the attack to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the young guns in Sami, Razzaq and Shahid Afridi rose to the occasion and bowled intelligently, according to the field.

Sami's inclusion gave the attack the option that was missing in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar. Sami bowled almost regularly at 143kph that made it difficult for the batsmen to adjust and throw their arms around. Shahid made full use of a bouncy track by bowling to a teasing line and length while Razzaq was as mean as ever to end up with three for 36.

It was this young trio that tightened the screws around Sri Lanka when they conceded 111 runs from their 30 overs. Such was the accuracy of the three that when Chandana hit Shahid was a six in the 35th over, it was the first boundary in 81 balls. For a change, it was Wasim and Waqar who got the hammering. The two old war horses gave away 133 runs between them, with the skipper being hit away for 77 after grabbing five for 38 only a couple of days back.

In the batting, there was purpose, planning and strategy evident from the way they handled spin king Muthiah Muralitharan. None of the batsmen took chances against him and concentrated on keeping their wickets intact but missed no opportunity to punish bad balls.

Saeed showed his class and wristy elegance with some exquisite stroke-play. But he must be regretting the opportunity of missing his 20th century, his first in two years, when he was bowled by Chandana while trying to manufacture a single after having hit a six and four in three balls. Saeed scored 70 off 77 balls that included seven boundaries and a six.

Inzamam played the role of the most seasoned player with perfection while contributing 63 off 95 balls that included five fours and a six. But it was Younis Khan's clean hitting that helped Pakistan collect 99 off the last 10 overs, including 55 from the final five overs. The best stroke of the match also came from the willow of Younis when he swept fast bowler Dilhara Fernando for an incredible six over square-leg. Younis slapped five fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 39-ball 56.

Together with Razzaq, who scored 29 off 11 balls with two fours and as many sixes, Younis put on 50 runs for the unfinished sixth wicket from 22 balls. The two were also responsible for spoiling Chaminda Vaas's figures when they hit him for 35 runs in his last two overs, including 25 in the final over of the innings.

© Dawn