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Pakistan, known to be bad chasers, proved everyone wrong by overhauling Sri Lanka's stiff 272 comfortably to earn a morale-boosting win by seven wickets in the dress rehearsal for Sunday's final of the Khaleej Times Trophy here Friday before the biggest crowd of the competition at the Sharjah Stadium.

And the men who made the task look so simple were rookie opener Naved Latif, playing his second one-dayer and the cool as cucumber customer, big man Inzamam-ul-Haq. The youngster was later named Man-of-the-Match.

Both hammered centuries in their massive third wicket stand of 219 after Pakistan had lost Shahid Afridi (11) and Yousuf Youhana (11) with the total 41. Naved reached his maiden hundred off 130 balls with eight fours and a six while Inzamam needed only 111 deliveries and hit 10 fours.

When Naved eventually holed out to Prabath Nissanka on the deep mid-wicket boundary Pakistan required only 12 runs for an emphatic victory. He faced 141 deliveries for his 113 that contained nine fours and one six.

Inzamam, during his innings, became the highest scorer at this venue overtaking his teammate Saeed Anwar while ending up with an unbeaten 118. He slammed two sixes and ten fours.

Sri Lanka sorely Muttiah Muralitharan their prime strike bowler. He might have made some difference and the islanders also had a poor match in the field. They put down three simple sitters which proved expensive in the end.

Inzamam was dropped by Muralitharan when 69 and Naved was missed twice once by Russel Arnold off his own bowling and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara, who had replaced Romesh Kaluwitharana, missed an easy catch behind the stumps.

Earlier, Mahela Jayawardena's elegant 88 off 83 balls that contained one six and six fours provided Sri Lankan the big enough total Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and elected to bat first in a match of no consequence.

Given a solid start of 95 by Jayasuriya (36) and Avishka Gunawardena (57), the classy Jayawardena - certainly the best Sri Lankan batsman - carted Pakistan's wayward attack to all corners of the ground with a series of exciting strokes.

Jayawardena shared two profitable partnerships. First he was involved in a stand worth 55 for the third wicket with Gunawardena and latter 66 for the fourth with in alliance with Russel Arnold.

He was eventually got out going for a big hit in the closing overs off Shoaib Akhtar, the best of Pakistan's modest attack minus Wasim Akram, who was given a rest. The controversial pacer finished with the figures of three for 45 from 10 overs.

© Dawn