October 3, 2003	Friday	Sha’aban 6, 1424

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KARACHI, Oct 2: Pakistan have all but qualified for the final of the Emerging Team Trophy triangular tournament in Colombo after rains played havoc with their game against Sri Lanka on Thursday, according to details available here.

Given the uncertain weather, currently prevalent in the Sri Lankan capital, Pakistan’s hopes of making Sunday’s final against the hosts are extremely bright. They have a six-point advantage over old foes India going into Friday’s last second-round league fixture.

After Wednesday’s complete washout, when both Sri Lanka and India were due to play, there was, at least, some play at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium on Thursday.

Pakistan made 159 in 37.5 overs after being asked to bat first in the curtailed 38-over per side game before torrential rains arrived to ruin the proceedings.

Aamir Sajjad (42 off 53 balls, two fours and one six) and Asim Munir (32 off 47 balls, three fours) put on 54 after Pakistan slid to 66 for four in the 20th over.

Mohamed Farveez Maharoof claimed three for 33 in eight overs with his brisk medium-pacers.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Usman Tariq c Fernando b Maharoof 7

Nadeem Babar b Kulasekera 12

Qaiser Abbas run out 9

Shahid Yousuf run out 17

Aamir Sajjad c Fernando b Maharoof 42

Asim Munir c Lakshita b Maharoof 32

Yasir Arafat c Gajanayake b P’kumara 1

Amin-ur-Rehman b Kulasekera 14

Junaid Zia run out 1

Mansoor Amjad not out 3

Yasir Ali c Tharanga b Lakshita 2

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5, NB-9) 19

TOTAL (all out, 37.5 overs) 159

FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-32, 3-57, 4-66, 5-122, 6-123, 7-151, 8-152, 9-154.

BOWLING: Lakshita 7.5-1-21-1 (3nb); Kulasekera 7-1-38-2 (1nb); Maharoof 8-1-33-3 (5nb, 2w); Jayasundera 8-0-26-0 (1w); Pushpakumara 7-0-36-1 (2w).

SRI LANKA: N.T. Paranavitana, W.U. Tharanga, M.S.R. Wijeratne, M.K. Gajanayake, S.H.T. Kandamby, M. Pushpakumara, C.S. Fernando, P.C. Jayasundera, K.M.D.N. Kulasekera, A.B.T. Lakshita, M.F. Maharoof.

RESULT: Match abandoned, both teams get three points.

UMPIRES: K.S.B. Murali and S.V. Ramani (both India).

MATCH REFEREE: S.D. Anurasiri (Sri Lanka).