DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka), May 20: Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami shared six wickets on Tuesday as Pakistan clinched a 22-run win over New Zealand to qualify for the tri-series final.

Pakistan’s victory means they now face New Zealand in the final on Friday. Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final of a home tri-series for the first time in history.

New Zealand finished the round robin matches with 13 points from four games, followed by Pakistan (12) and Sri Lanka (11). Each team posted two wins, but New Zealand and Pakistan qualified by virtue of earning more bonus points than the hosts.

Set a challenging 204-run target, the highest score of the tournament, New Zealand were bowled out for 181 in 48.1 overs.

Shoaib Akhtar and Sami took three for 36 and three for 34 respectively as New Zealand lost their last six wickets for just 21 runs.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria (3-31) had done the damage in the middle overs in only his fifth One-day International.

All-rounder Shoaib Malik laid the foundations for Pakistan’s win with the bat, crashing a boundary-studded 74 from 72 balls to win the Man-of-the-Match award.

New Zealand started their challenging run chase well, with captain Stephen Fleming and Chris Nevin putting on 36 for the first wicket.

But they then collapsed to 71 for three in the 23rd over after the loss of Fleming (17), Lou Vincent (2) and Nevin (28).

Chris Cairns and Scott Styris resuscitated the chase with a 42-run fourth wicket partnership before Cairns was bowled for 28 by a googly from Kaneria.

Styris, top scorer with 46 from 99 balls, maintained the momentum with a run-a-ball 47 run stand for the fifth wicket with Chris Harris.

However, with New Zealand needing 44 runs in 37 balls with six wickets, Pakistan stormed back into the match.

Sami trapped Harris (24) lbw, Brendon McCullum was caught at a slip for a duck and Styris holed out on the boundary before Shoaib Akhtar and Sami wrapped up the tail.

Earlier, Pakistan had slumped to 10 for two and then 61 for four after being put into bat by New Zealand on a re-used pitch that had been heavily watered the previous evening.

Shoaib Malik seized the initiative, adding 41 with Younis Khan (26) and 71 in 55 balls with Abdul Razzaq (23).

He launched an all-out attack at the end of the innings as 76 came from the last 10 overs to power Pakistan to the highest total at the venue.

The 21-year-old was eventually caught by McCullum as he tried to clear the boundary ropes for the second time. He had hit eight fours and a six.

Daniel Vettori, New Zealand’s hero on Monday against hosts Sri Lanka, was the most successful bowler, taking three for 35 from his 10 overs.

Pakistan raised the level of their performance thanks to Shoaib Malik in the must-win clash.

“The plan was to stay at the wicket as long as possible,” said Shoaib Malik.

“I relied on singles and twos in the beginning before going for shots. The pitch was better than the ones used earlier in the tournament,” he said.

“Credit should go to the boys as they played positive cricket in a big match,” said Pakistani captain Rashid Latif.

“Shoaib Akhtar and Sami bowled really fast today as we expected fireworks from them in this game. Kaneria took wickets at right time. Shoaib Malik batted impressively and was involved in a good stand with Abdul Razzaq,” he said.

Scoreboard

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