Yousuf Youhana top-scored with an unbeaten 107 to guide Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka and into the final of a three-nation one-day tournament on Wednesday.

Youhana and all-rounder Shoaib Malik, who struck 86 not out, shared an unbroken stand of 200 for the third wicket as Pakistan reached 233 for two in reply to Sri Lanka's 232 for nine.

It was Pakistan's third successive win in the tournament and they will met either Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe in the October 16 final in Lahore.

Youhana, who hit seven fours and a six in 121 balls, became Pakistan's sixth batsman to reach 6,000 runs in One-Day Internationals when he moved to 67.

His hundred was the 10th of his career and followed scores of one and 14 in Pakistan's previous matches against Zimbabwe.

Youhana and Malik joined forces with Pakistan on 33 for two in the 12th over after fast bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa had removed openers Yasir Hameed (13) and Salman Butt (17) in three balls.

Hameed and Butt struggled against the new ball, only two boundaries coming in the first 10 overs which yielded 30 runs.

Sri Lanka used six bowlers in a bid to dislodge Malik and Youhana but the batsmen were in flowing form to the delight of a 20,000 home crowd.

ASIAN CHAMPIONS

Earlier, Malik took three for 32 to help restrict Asian champions Sri Lanka in the third match of the tournament.

Malik kept the innings in check by first smartly running out a dangerous looking Sanath Jayasuriya (53) then dismissing Marvan Atapattu (46), Mahela Jayawardene (18) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (4).

He helped put the brakes on Sri Lanka, who are playing their first game since their Champions Trophy defeat by England last month.

The visitors lost their way in the last 10 overs, scoring 56 runs and losing five wickets after winning the toss and batting first in hot conditions.

After the second-over dismissal of Avishka Gunawardene when he dragged a ball from Rana Naved on to his stumps, Jayasuriya and skipper Atapattu anchored the innings with a 109-run stand off 144 balls.

Jayasuriya greeted fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's first ball with a six over mid-wicket and went on to make his 57th half century before he was run out in the 23rd over to trigger the batting slump.

Malik had Atapattu caught by Inzamam-ul-Haq for 46 from 75 balls then bowled Jayawardene when he went to cut the ball and had Dilshan caught behind by stand-in keeper Younis Khan.

Mohammad Sami bowled the in-form Kumar Sangakkarra (38 from 52 balls) and Shahid Afridi bowled Upul Chandana (9).

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka:
Avishka Gunawardene b Naved 1
Sanath Jayasuriya run out (Malik) 53
Marvan Atapattu c Inzamam b Malik 46
Kumar Sangakkara b Sami 38
Mahela Jayawardene b Malik 18
Tillakaratne Dilshan c Younis b Malik 4
Upul Chandana b Afridi 9
Chaminda Vaas b Shoaib 11
Farveez Maharoof b Sami 15
Kaushal Lokuarachchi not out 4.

Extras: (b-4, lb-11, w-14, nb-4) 33.

Total: (nine wickets, 50 overs) 232

Did not bat: Nuwan Zoysa

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-113, 3-129, 4-165, 5-177, 6-194, 7-196, 8-222, 9-232.

Bowling: Muhammad Sami 10-1-41-2 (2-w), Rana Naved 7-0-30-1, Shoaib Akhtar 8-0-46-1 (3-nb, 2-w), Shahid Afridi 10-0-42-1 (10-w), Abdul Razzaq 5-0-26-0 (1-nb), Shoaib Malik 10-0-32-3.

Pakistan:
Salman Butt c Atapattu b Zoysa 17
Yasir Hameed lbw Vaas 13
Shoaib Malik not out 86
Yousuf Youhana not out 107.

Extras: (lb-6, w-4) 10.

Total: (for two wickets, 48.4 overs) 233

Did not bat: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami.

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-33.

Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 10-0-24-1, Nuwan Zoysa 8-0-31-1 (3-w), Farveez Maharoof 7.4-0-41-0 (1-w), Kaushal Lokuarachchi 6-0-36-0, Sanath Jayasuriya 7-0-40-0, Upul Chandana 4-0-31-0, Tillakaratne Dilshan 6-0-24-0.