Half centuries from skipper Marvan Atapattu (66) and Kumar Sangakkara (68) and a compact knock from Mahela Jayawardene allowed the Asian Champions to take advantage of a flat track after being asked to bat first.

Jayawardene (49 from 54 balls) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (39 from 37 balls) spurred on the innings with a flurry of boundaries and quick running between the wickets in a fifth wicket stand of 63 off 62 balls.

After Dilshan was bowled by Shahid Afridi in the 46th over and Upul Chandana lost his off stump to Muhammad Sami, Jayawardene teamed up with Chaminda Vaas (18) as 85 runs came in the final 10 overs.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who made the team after passing a fitness test before the match, suffered the most in this period and was taken out of the attack after conceding 15 in the first over of his third spell.

Used in short spells, Akhtar who suffered a hamstring strain in the last match, conceded three boundaries in the 43rd over.

Earlier, Atapattu, enjoying a rich vein of form in the tournament, and Sangakkara produced a second successive century partnership (106 off 118 balls) to propel the innings after their team struggled to 35 for two in 10 overs.

Saman Jayantha was needlessly run out in the first over for a duck without a run on the board and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (21) got a bad decision when he was declared caught at short cover off a leading inside edge off Navedul Hasan.

Television replays suggested there was no contact between bat and ball.

Atapattu and Sangakkara played some handsome strokes to once again take the initiative from the bowlers as they had done on Thursday.

Atapattu notched up his 50th half century in his innings lasting for 94 balls and six fours while Sangakkara scored his 19th half-century as his 68 came from 69 balls with seven fours.

It was a solid-looking total but both teams will be well aware that Pakistan. who have never won a one-day tournament title at home, successfully chased a bigger target two days ago.