Masood, Younis put Pakistan in driver’s seat

Pallekele, July 6

Shan Masood and Younis Khan compiled unbeaten centuries to keep Pakistan in the hunt for a landmark victory in the series-deciding third and final Test against Sri Lanka today. Set a challenging target of 377 runs, the tourists recovered from a shaky 13-2 to move to 230 without further loss by stumps on the rain-free fourth day in Pallekele.

Masood, the five-Test old left-hander, was unbeaten on 114, having reached his maiden century by lofting off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal for a six over long-on towards the end of play.

Younis, who made his 100th Test appearance in the second match of the series, got to his 30th century in the day’s last over. The pair has put on 217 so far for the third wicket with Younis on 101.

Pakistan will enter the final day’s play on Tuesday needing a further 147 runs with eight wickets in hand on a wearing but easy-paced pitch.

If Pakistan win, it will be the first time a visiting team will have scored more than 300 runs in the fourth innings to win a Test on Sri Lankan soil.

Pakistan’s highest successful chase is 314 runs they made against Australia to win the Karachi Test way back in 1994.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews was the last man out for 122 as the hosts took their overnight score of 228-5 to 313 before they were all out at the stroke of lunch.

Pakistan’s fast bowler Imran Khan took all the five wickets that fell in the morning session in the space of 33 balls. Mathews, who came in to bat on Sunday afternoon with his team reduced to 35-3, anchored the innings for more than six hours in which he hit 12 boundaries and a six. — AFP

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 278 and 313 (Mathews 122, Chandimal 67, Imran 5/58); Pakistan 215 and 230 for 2 (Masood 114no, Younis 101no)