TANGIERS, Aug 17: Pakistan’s hopes of making to the final of the Morocco Cup were left hanging by the thread when Sri Lanka beat them by 39 runs in the fourth match Saturday.

Chasing a target of 243, Pakistan batsmen committed hara-kiri and gifted their wickets to the Sri Lankans on a surface that, against expectations, had absolutely no demons.

A late assault by Shahid Afridi (26 off 16 balls with three sixes) kept Pakistan’s slim hopes alive in the competition when he denied Sri Lanka another bonus point.

But the pinch-hitter, surprisingly relegated to ninth in batting order, couldn’t avert the inevitable as Pakistan were bowled out for 203 with more than six overs to spare.

Pakistan can now only reach the final if they secure a bonus point against South Africa Sunday and hope Sri Lanka defeat South Africa Monday.

Pakistan had looked down and out when they were reduced to 29 for three in little over 10 overs and then 57 for four in 19.1 overs. But Yousuf Youhana rose to the occasion and together with Abdul Razzaq brought the team back in the game with a 70-run fifth wicket partnership.

After Razzaq’s (25) departure, Youhana added less than run-a-ball 30 with Wasim Akram. But the dismissal of Youhana in the 37th at 157 over proved to be the killer blow as Pakistan slumped to 179 for nine before Shahid’s late but fruitless assault.

Earlier, Sanath Jayasuriya won the crucial toss and had little hesitation in batting first. The skipper led from the front when he clobbered 12 boundaries and a six in his 94-ball 97 that later won him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Jayasuriya put on 111 runs for the fourth wicket from 117 balls with Mahela Jayawardene (43).