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Career-best 6 for 18 by Azhar Mahmood

Pakistan's medium-pacer Azhar Mahmood produced career-best figures of six for 18 to send the West Indies crashing out of the three-nation Coca Cola Trophy cricket tournament in Sharjah last night.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan put up a challenging 255 for five in their 50 overs, thanks to a whirlwind unbeaten 71 off 47 balls by Yousuf Yohanna, a patient 77 by Hasan Raza and a characteristic 61 by Inzamum-ul Haq.

They then dismissed the West Indies for 117 runs in 31.3 overs to emerge victors by 138 runs.

Pakistan will now meet Sri Lanka in Friday's final after two days' rest.

The Pakistanis had already made it to Friday's final after beating Sri Lanka on Monday. They were unbeaten in the two-stage league and ended up with seven points from three wins and a tie after four matches.

Sri Lanka finished with three points from one win and the tie with Pakistan. The West Indians were at the bottom with just two points from one win in four matches.

West Indies skipper Brian Lara waged a lone battle for his team but fell short of partners, seeing them perishing one by one. He was the last man out with 30 off 51 balls, inclusive of one six.

Such was the ferocity of Mahmood's bowling that the last seven West Indian wickets fell in the space of just 25 runs. They lost three wickets witht he score on 111.

Mahmood, whose previous best was five for 38 against India in Bangalore earlier this year, was adjudged man of the match.

The West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals as the Pakistani bowlers fired on all cylinders.

Shervin Campbell (4) was the first to go when he was caught by wicketkeeper Moin Khan off Mohammed Akram in the third over.

Moin led the side today in the absence of Wasim Akram, who had decided to rest in preparation for the final.

Ridley Jacobs (28) and Chris Gayle (22) took the score to 55 before a full-blooded stroke from the latter off Mahmood was brilliantly taken by Inzamum.

Lara was next in and appeared in a punishing mood, but Jacobs departed soon, bowled by Mahmood.

The West Indian skipper and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (14) tried to salvage the innings before Shoaib Malik struck, getting Chanderpaul caught by Inzamum. The West Indies had slumped to 92 for four at that stage.

Mahmood struck again when he claimed Ricardo Powell (0), caught behind by Moin. Wavell Hinds (8) also fell to the combination of Mahmood and Moin.

Mahmood's next victim was Nemiah Perry (1), trapped leg before wicket. He also claimed the wicket of Rion King before the West Indian innings folded up with the exit of Lara, caught by Wajahatullah Wasti off Malik.

UNI