Inzamam, only the second batsman to score over 10,000 one-day runs, produced his 72nd half century as Pakistan overhauled a Sri Lankan total of 293 with relative ease to reach 297 for four with seven balls to spare under lights.

The weather conditions, however, played a decisive factor in the match with Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu complaining about the dew.

"The dew factor is very important here under lights," said Atapattu. "Today it made a big difference to the result. We both agree there should be an early start to the final."

Inzamam, who won the toss, said he had decided to field first because of the dew.

"I think because of the dew factor the toss played a vital role today," said Inzamam. "It is not easy bowling and fielding in such conditions even if you are defending 293."

Pakistan ended with 21 points in the competition's qualifying rounds after four straight wins, followed by Sri Lanka with 11 points, while winless Zimbabwe had four points.

It was Pakistan's highest successful run chase since June when English coach Bob Woolmer joined them to replace former captain Javed Miandad.

Inzamam came into bat when the second wicket fell for 139 in the 30th over and proceeded to push the pace with some brilliant strokes, reaching his half-century from 42 balls with six fours.

With 80 required in the last 10 overs, he and Yousuf Youhana (30) put on a brisk 74 before Youhana was caught in the deep by Upul Chandana off Vaas with 10 runs required from 11 balls.

Inzamam remained unbeaten on 76 from 58 balls with eight fours and a six.

Openers Salman Butt (57) and Yasir Hameed (48) set up the chase by putting on 99 for the first wicket.

Yasir was dropped twice on one and 13 off Nuwan Zoysa and Dilhara Fernando while Jayawardene dropped a straight-forward chance from Butt at slip off the luckless Zoysa.

Butt reached his maiden half-century in his fourth match from 69 balls with five fours.

Inzamam took control to forge a third wicket stand of 71 with Malik (56), who was bowled by Fernando with the total on 210.

Earlier, Atapattu stroked a fluent 111 and combined with Kumar Sangakkara (69) in a 146-run partnership, to guide his team to their total.

Sri Lanka added 49 runs in the last five overs in which Pakistan fast bowler Muhammad Sami was stopped from bowling by umpire Simon Taufel for intimidatory bowling.

Sami having received an earlier warning in the innings bowled a beamer to Dilshan on the first ball of the 48th over, which was called by Taufel who asked captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to take him out of the attack.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also had a miserable day as he went for 30 runs in four overs and was not asked to bowl again.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka:
S.Jayantha c Moin b Naved 9
S.Jayasuriya lbw Naved 10
M.Atapattu run out 111
K.Sangakkara st Moin b Afridi 69
M.Jayawardene c Malik b Sami 18
T.Dilshan not out 32
T.Kandamby c Afridi b Razzaq 6
U.Chandana not out 10
Extras (lb-4, w-18, nb-6) 28
Total (for six wickets in 50 overs) 293

Did not bat: C.Vaas, N.Zoysa, D.Fernando

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-26, 3-171, 4-233, 5-244, 6-270

Bowling: Muhammad Sami 8-1-35-1 (4-nb 4-w), Rana Naved 10-1-65-2 (5-w), Shoaib Akhtar 4-0-30-0 (1-nb), Shoaib Malik 10-0-45-0 (1-nb 3-w), Abdul Razzaq 10-0-57-1, Shahid Afridi 8-0-57-1 (6-w)

Pakistan innings
Salman Butt c Sangakkara b Vaas 57
Yasir Hameed b Chandana 48
Shoaib Malik b Fernando 56
Inzamam-ul-Haq not out 76
Yousuf Youhana c Chandana b Vaas 30
Abdul Razzaq not out 4
Extras (b-3, lb-9, w-9, nb-5) 26
Total (for four wickets, 48.5 overs) 297

Fall of wkts: 1-99, 2-139, 3-210, 4-284

Did not bat: Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Rana Naved, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami.

Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 9.5-1-62-2, Nuwan Zoysa 7-0-44-0 (1-w), Dilhara Fernando 10-0-57-1 (5-nb, 2-w), Upul Chandana 10-1-45-1 (2-w), Tillakaratne Dilshan 5-0-25-0, Sanath Jayasuriya 7-0-52-0 (4-w)

Result: Pakistan won by six wickets

Final: Pakistan v Sri Lanka - October 16.