Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami shared six wickets on Tuesday as Pakistan clinched a 22-run win over New Zealand to qualify for the tri-series final.

Pakistan's victory means they now face New Zealand in the final on Friday.

Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final of a home tri-series for the first time in history.

Set a challenging 204-run target, the highest score of the tournament, New Zealand were bowled out for 181 in 48.1 overs.

Akhtar and Sami took three for 36 and three for 34 respectively as New Zealand lost their last six wickets for just 21 runs.

All-rounder Shoaib Malik laid the foundations for Pakistan's win with the bat, crashing a boundary-studded 74 from 72 balls to win the man-of-the-match award.

New Zealand started their challenging run chase well, with captain Stephen Fleming and Chris Nevin putting on 36 for the first wicket.

But they then collapsed to 71 for three in the 23rd over after the loss of Fleming (17), Lou Vincent (2) and Nevin (28).

Chris Cairns and Scott Styris resuscitated the chase with a 42-run fourth wicket partnership before Cairns was bowled for 28 by a googly from Danish Kaneria.

Styris, top scorer with 46 from 99 balls, maintained the momentum with a run-a-ball 47 run stand for the fifth wicket with Chris Harris.

However, with New Zealand needing 44 runs in 37 balls with six wickets, Pakistan stormed back into the match.

Sami trapped Harris (24) lbw, Brendon McCullum was caught at a slip for a duck and Styris holed out on the boundary before Akhtar and Sami wrapped up the tail.

Earlier, Pakistan had slumped to 10 for two and then 61 for four after being put into bat by New Zealand on a re-used pitch that had been heavily watered the previous evening.

Malik seized the initiative, adding 41 with Younis Khan (26) and 71 in 55 balls with Abdul Razzaq (23).

He launched an all-out attack at the end of the innings as 76 came from the last 10 overs to power Pakistan to the highest total at the venue.

The 21-year-old was eventually caught by McCullum as he tried to clear the boundary ropes for the second time. He had hit eight fours and a six.

Daniel Vettori, New Zealand's hero on Monday against hosts Sri Lanka, was the most successful bowler, taking three for 35 from his 10 overs.

Scoreboard

Pakistan:

Mohammad Hafeez b Mills 3

Taufeeq Umar b Tuffey 2

Yasir Hameed c Styris b Harris 25

Yousuf Youhana lbw Vettori 17

Younis Khan c sub b Vettori 26

Shoaib Malik c McCullum b Vettori 74

Rashid Latif c Cairns b Wiseman 2

Abdul Razzaq c Mills b Tuffey 23

Shoaib Akhtar not out 18

Mohammad Sami c Vincent b Styris 0

Danish Kaneria not out 0

Extras (lb-2, w-9, nb-2) 13

Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 203

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-10, 3-57, 4-61, 5-102, 6-108, 7-179, 8-191, 9-201

Bowling: Tuffey 9-1-32-2, Mills 10-0-36-1, Styris 5-0-31-1, Vettori 10-1-34-3, Harris 10-0-41-1, Wiseman 6-0-27-1

New Zealand:

C.Nevin c Mohammad Sami b Danish Kaneria 28

S.Fleming c Rashid Latif b Mohammad Sami 17

L.Vincent lbw Mohammad Hafeez 2

S.Styris c Shoaib Malik b Danish Kaneria 46

C.Cairns b Danish Kaneria 28

C.Harris lbw Mohammad Sami 24

B.McCullum c Younis Khan b Shoaib Akhtar 0

K.Mills c Taufeeq Umar b Shoaib Akhtar 11

D.Vettori c Rashid Latif b Shoaib Akhtar 4

P.Wiseman b Mohammad Sami 2

D.Tuffey not out 2

Extras (lb-3, w-11, nb-3) 17

Total (all out, 48.1 overs) 181

Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-40, 3-71, 4-113, 5-160, 6-161, 7-163, 8-172, 9-179

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 9.1-0-36-3, Mohammad Sami 9-1-34-3, Mohammad Hafeez 10-1-33-1, Danish Kaneria 10-1-31-3, Shoaib Malik 9-0-39-0, Abdul Razzaq 1-0-5-0.

Result: Pakistan won by 22 runs.

Final: New Zealand v Pakistan - May 23, Dambulla.