Yousuf Youhana continued with his terrific streak with the bat as Pakistan strolled to a seven-wicket win over holders Sri Lanka in the last league match of the Pepsi Asia Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium last night.

The feisty right-hander followed up his magnificent 100 not out against India in the previous match with yet another superlative undefeated 90 as Pakistan, chasing a modest Sri Lankan total of 192 in 50 overs, reached 193 with 10 balls to spare

The outcome of rnematch.a dress rehearsal of tomorrow's final, would certainly put Pakistan in a better frame of mind ahead of the Islanders, who conceded their first defeat In the four-nation meet after two successive wins against Bangladesh and India. It was Pakistan’s third triumph on trot, though.

Coming in to bat at number three, the compact batsman from Lahore once again played the sheet anchor role after Pakistan lost opener Imran Nazir for a run-a-ball 15.

Youhana shared a 107-run second-wicket partnership with opener Mohammad Wasim before the latter was caught by Upul Chandana at cover off a Jayasuriya delivery.

Playing his first match in the tournament. Wasim fell six runs short of his half-century. He faced 11 1 balls for his 44, which Included a quartet of boundaries.

Youhana then added 57 runs with Inzamamul Haq. who scored an aggressive 27 before departing, leaving Pakistan just five runs shy of victory. In-zauiam offered a simple catch id mid-on crying id drive lefr-arm seamer Sajeewa de Silva The portly Multan man belted Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya for a huge six.

However an on-song Youhana was not ready to throw away his wicket and remained not out at ihe kill In his 130-ball vigil, he smote two sixes and eight boundaries

His effort earned him the man-of-the-match for the second successive game. Besides, the latest knock took his average to a staggering 270 in three innings that included 80 against Bangladesh.

Earlier. Srl Lanka looking to put up a decent total for Pakistanis to chase, were shot out for 192 in 49 overs thanks to their wayward batting that saw five Lankau batsmen run themselves but. a quite unusual thing to happen to the islanders who an reputed for their agility be-Iwn the wicket.

The young blood led immaculate Pakistani ground fielding never reached to such magnitude before. Shoaib Malik affected two run outs while Wasim. Youhana and Nazir one each.

One-down Man-an Atapattu scored the highest 62 off 102 balls with three boundaries followed by middle-order Upul Chandana who added 46 off 57 balls inclusive of two sixes and a four.

Opener Jayasuriya hit five boundaries on his way to a mn-a-ball 28.

For Pakistan, right-arm medium pacer Azhar Mahmood was the wrecker-in-chief. He took three wickets for 24 runs from eight overs. Young fast bowler Sabbir Ahmed, left-arm spinner Arshad Khan and legspinner Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

The Pakistanis rested yesterday three of their great guns in Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram and Abdur Razzaq.

Sri Lanka also made two changes, replacing Tillekerante Dilshan and Nuwan Zoysa with Upul Chandana and Sajeewa de Silva.

However, both teams are expected to fight it out in the grand finale lull strength.