The Pepsi, LG and Hero Honda flags fluttered up on the roof (the sponsors are presumably now more important than the participating nations), but it was the Sri Lankan Lion that was being waved proudly in the stands. For Pakistan supporters, this was one of those days when it made more sense to leave early - flag folded away for another day - and seek solace on the beach or in one of the many bars that dot the Colombo waterfront. Just before play resumed after the second drinks break in the Sri Lankan second innings, Wasim Akram lay flat on his back on the edge of the fielding circle at point. It was the perfect photo opportunity, one that revealed Pakistan's plight in this game with stark, almost cruel clarity. They stumbled very early on in their innings, and the rest of the match was about Sri Lanka putting the boot in till the Pakistanis - players and fans alike - could do little but stare at the heavens.

The rot set in, not surprisingly, with Shahid Afridi, that most over-rated of one-trick ponies. The Big Bang theory was once used to devastating effect, but cricket has moved on since then. Sadly for Pakistan, Afridi hasn't. His apologists will talk of his strike rate, which hovers around the 100 mark, but frankly, who gives a toss when he struggles to get into double figures most days?

Saeed Anwar has talked of the strength that the affirmation of his religious faith has given him, but there must be a legion of Pakistani fans who long for the devil-may-care explosiveness that characterised his batting earlier. He put runs on the board today - 52 of them - but the extravagant shotmaking that once saw him rated alongside the likes of Tendulkar, Ganguly and Gilchrist was in scant evidence.

And with Inzamam-ul-Haq supposedly nursing a heel injury, Pakistan's batting was as messy as a Jackson Pollock painting. They clearly have the talent, but if there is a think-tank, it's on an extended holiday (the joke goes that an e-mail to them would get an "Out of office" reply). How else can you explain Shoaib Malik coming in at No. 3 when both Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana were in the side? The only thing young Shoaib can take out of that bizarre move up the order is the knowledge that his place in history is secure … for all the wrong reasons. He was the first victim of an lbw referral to the third umpire.

Too many of the batsmen, Anwar included, allowed themselves to get bogged down before launching into shots so reckless they would have made a kamikaze pilot blanch. It all went to pieces quicker than the biscuits that Muttiah Muralitharan's father makes at their factory in Kandy, and the target of 201 never looked likely to be enough. So it proved, once Sanath Jayasuriya got going with those patented swipes square of the wicket.

It wasn't Jayasuriya at his devastating best, but the situation didn't require that. A century in 118 balls is fair going for some, but from him, it was like watching the Flying Scotsman in slow-mo. Aravinda de Silva batted solidly enough for his half-century, without ever uncorking the champagne, as Sri Lanka cruised to a victory as emphatic, one-sided and predictable as Muhammad Ali's mauling of Ernie Terrell almost 40 years ago - when he deliberately taunted his opponent for 15 rounds without knocking him out, leaving Terrell with a face that resembled a bag stuffed full of golf-balls.

Barring an unlikely Dutch success against Sri Lanka, this group is done and dusted. And if Pakistan are Australia's closest challengers - as was touted in some quarters after their success Down Under two months ago - then Heaven help us. This shower can't beat anyone but themselves at the moment.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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