Pakistan 279 for 5 (Saeed Anwar 70, Inzamam 63, Younis Khan 56*) beat Sri Lanka 251 for 8 (Abdul Razzaq 3-31) by 28 runs
Scorecard

Pakistan celebrated 55 years of independence by completing a 28-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second match of the Morocco Cup. Solid batting all through the innings, rounded off by a quickfire 50-run partnership off just 22 balls between Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq took Pakistan to a healthy score of 279 for 5, a total that was always slightly beyond Sri Lanka's reach. Despite a run-a-ball 37 from Russel Arnold, they finished well short.

On winning the toss, Sanath Jayasuriya chose to field first, but a rollicking start from Saeed Anwar and a solid consolidatory knock of 63 by Inzamam-ul-Haq in the middle overs kept Pakistan from losing their way, as they had in their defeat to South Africa two days ago.

Imran Nazir began the fireworks for Pakistan, hitting a couple of lusty fours, but was trapped plumb in front by Chaminda Vaas for just 9 (15 for 1). Anwar and Yousuf Youhana then added 70 for the second wicket before Youhana was caught behind off Dilhara Fernando for a well-compiled 32 (85 for 2).

Inzamam and Anwar steadied the ship, but then Anwar charged and missed against Upul Chandana for a 77-ball 70, before Shahid Afridi holed out in familiar fashion to long-on off Muttiah Muralitharan. At 170 for 4, the platform was set for a trademark collapse, but this time, Pakistan's batsmen kept their heads.

Younis hustled boundaries with consummate ease, while Inzamam kept motoring along. By the 47th over, Pakistan had reached 229, but then came the real acceleration. Inzamam mishit a slower delivery from Pulasthi Gunaratne to Mahela Jaywardene at cover, before Razzaq (two sixes) and Younis (one six, one four) smashed 25 runs from Vaas's last over.

Sri Lanka got off to a sound reply as Jayasuriya (36 off 33 balls) and Marvan Atapattu took 55 runs off the first nine overs. But when Jayasuriya fell, Atapattu got badly bogged down in a second-wicket partnership with Kumar Sangakkara. He had groped his way to 42 in 31 overs before slogging Afridi to long-off.

Chandana was promoted to No. 5 to force the pace, but when Waqar Younis snared him, Sri Lanka were 161 for 4 in the 36th over, and Pakistan had taken control.

Jayawardene (32) and Aravinda de Silva didn't last much longer, and only Vaas, with 31 off 25 balls provided Arnold with any real support.

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