Pakistan swept into the semi-finals of the ICC KnockOut tournament on the back of an assured century from Saeed Anwar as Sri Lanka were brushed aside by nine wickets at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Sunday.

Saeed shared a 90-run opening partnership with Imran Nazir and then, after Imran had been run out for 40, batted through to see Pakistan home comfortably with 6.4 overs to spare. Pakistan will now play the winners of Monday's meeting between New Zealand and Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

In truth, though, neither Saeed nor his team were ever seriously challenged by a sub-standard performance from Sri Lanka. The 1996 World Cup winners batted poorly, failing to see out their 50 overs, and then lacked penetration as they tried to defend a moderate total of 194.

After the opening stand, which came off only 17 overs, Pakistan were 115 for one at the halfway stage and as the target was steadily tracked down, the only real matter for conjecture was whether Saeed would reach his hundred in time. With Yousaf Youhana also scoring freely at the other end, Saeed was stretched a little, but he tapped his way towards three figures with a succession of singles, and finally hoisted Upul Chandana for six to reach the mark off the last stroke of the game.

Saeed's unbeaten 105 was his 18th ODI century and it came off 134 balls with 12 fours and a six. Youhana was not out on 42 at the end after batting for 84 balls with two fours and two sixes.

It was an accomplished all-round display from Pakistan, but Sri Lanka were most disappointing and the match suffered as a spectacle as a result.

Saeed, however, won't have minded that.

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