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SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, April 12 (AFP) - World record holder Wasim Akram crossed the 450-wicket mark in one-day cricket as Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to 239-6 from 50 overs in the Sharjah Cup here on Friday.

Akram, the only bowler in history to take more than 400 wickets in both Tests and one-dayers, teamed up with long-time partner and current captain Waqar Younis to rip through Sri Lanka's top order.

Sri Lanka, electing to bat in the return game after winning their first encounter against Pakistan by 41 runs, were reduced to 41-4 by the dreaded pair.

Marvan Atapattu came to Sri Lanka's rescue with an unbeaten 77, leading a dramatic revival that set Pakistan a target of 4.8 runs an over in the day-night international.

Atapattu put on 91 for the fifth wicket with Russel Arnold (41) and a run-a-ball 107 for the sixth with Upul Chandana, who hit a career-best 64.

Chandana was bowled off the final delivery of the innings after helping Sri Lanka plunder 70 runs in the last 10 overs.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand were level with four points each after the first round of the double-leg preliminary league.

The top two teams in the league will advance to next Wednesday's final of the 250,000-dollar event.

English umpire David Shepherd, standing in his 100th one-dayer, watched from close range as Sri Lanka fought back after the early demolition by Waqar and Akram.

Waqar, thrashed for 18 runs in his first two overs, hit back by uprooting Sanath Jayasuriya's middle stump in the sixth over.

The Sri Lankan captain made 23 off 24 balls with four hits to the fence, all off Waqar.

Waqar earned another success in his next over when wicket-keeper Rashid Latif picked up a brilliant diving catch to remove Romesh Kaluwitharana for seven.

Akram, playing his 327th one-dayer, moved from 449 to 451 in the space of two deliveries, but was denied a hat-trick by Russel Arnold.

The left-arm seamer had Kumar Sangakkara caught behind by Latif off the last ball of his fifth over to reach the 450-wicket mark.

Then with the first ball of his next over, Akram forced Mahela Jayawardena to edge another catch to Latif to open up the Sri Lankan lower order.

SRI LANKA
S. Jayasuriya 	b Waqar				 23 
R. Kaluwitharana c Latif b Waqar		  7 
K. Sangakkara 	c Latif b Akram			  5 
M. Jayawardena 	c Latif b Akram			  1 
M. Atapattu 	not out			 	 77 
R. Arnold 	c Nazir b Afridi		 41 
U. Chandana 	b Akhtar			 64 
Extras 		(B-1, LB-6, W-4, NB-10)		 21 
TOTAL 		(for six wkts, 50 overs)	239 

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-32, 2-40, 3-40, 4-41, 5-132, 6-239. 
BOWLING: Akram 10-3-30-2, Waqar 9-0-49-2, 
         Akhtar 9-1-51-1, Razzaq 6-0-34-0, 
         Saqlain 10-0-40-0, Afridi 6-0-28-1.
Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng), Russel Tiffin (Zim). 
Third umpire: Srinivas Venkataraghvan (Ind). 
Match referee: Gundappa Vishwanath (Ind).

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