Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two teams linked by tragedy, will contest the World Twenty20 final at Lord's on Sunday. Six policemen and two civilians were killed, and seven Sri Lankan squad members wounded, when militants launched a gun and grenade assault on their team bus as they travelled to a Test match in Lahore on March 3. The incident led to the suspension of international cricket in Pakistan and dire fears for the national side's future. But Pakistan, which beat favorite South Africa by seven runs in Thursday's semifinal at Trent Bridge, has bounced back in style at this tournament. Now it will face a still unbeaten Sri Lanka in the final after its Asian rival thrashed the West Indies by 57 runs at the Oval on Friday. Sri Lanka was fined for a slow over-rate during their semifinal. Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, one of the players wounded in the attack, told reporters on Friday after his team's semifinal win over West Indies the assault had reminded his team of their own mortality. “I think it is a fitting reward for the courage of the team in the way they have played in this tournament, all the players have got through,” he said.” His Pakistan counterpart Younis Khan, whose team did not play a single test last year because of the uncertainty at home, sounded a similar note after beating South Africa on Thursday. “We are suffering from everything in Pakistan and everyone knows about all the fighting, a lot of fighting. If we can lift the Cup, it will provide great cheer for the people,” Younis said. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a Super Eight match earlier at this tournament but Sangakkara said: “We've played Pakistan many times before but in T20 you must take every game in isolation. Different players come into form at different times. “Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and walk away with a trophy.” The dangerous Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant all-round display in Pakistan's semifinal triumph, scoring 51 and then taking two wickets for 16 runs with his leg-spinners. “He is a guy who can take game away in few overs, but we can't just concentrate on him,” said Sangakkara. And in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sangakkara has two star spinners of his own although Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal should not be disregarded. “Mendis, the way he's bowled in the middle overs had been a charm,” Sangakkara said. “Even Pakistan watch him closely, they know he can get their wickets.” Sri Lanka's semifinal victory was built on a brilliant innings from Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading score at the tournament with 317 runs, who carried his bat for 96 not out in a total of 158 for five. Then came a sensational first over in the West Indies' reply, which saw seam bowler Angelo Mathews take three wickets as Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo all played on for ducks. Sangakkara, who said he expected something special from veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya in the final, added: “I have run out of superlatives for Dilshan. He is a pioneer stroke-maker in Twenty20. “The best thing is that he understands his role and has become very responsible and mature. He has finally understood how good he is.” Pakistan, which lost by just five runs to arch-rival India in the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johanneburg, is desperate to go one better this time. The dark horses of this tournament, they have justified veteran coach Intikhab Alam's belief that they would be at their best when it mattered most. “I have told the boys that we can win because we are the best,” Alam said. West Indies captain Chris Gayle, asked who his money would be on in the final, jokingly said: “I don't have any money I am broke.” But on a serious note, he added: “You couldn't ask for a better final, they are two quality teams.” England women eye double England will look to win its second major trophy against New Zealand in a matter of months when it faces the White Ferns in the women's Twenty20 final at Lord's on Sunday. That match will be a repeat of the 50-over World Cup final which England won by four wickets in Sydney in March. England won through to the showpiece match by beating old rival Australia by eight wickets at the Oval on Friday. – AgenciesFinal today 1700 Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka __
