Younis gives Pakistan a memorable series win

Pallekele, July 7

Younis Khan’s unbeaten 171 guided Pakistan to their highest successful run chase on Tuesday with the tourists easing to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka to clinch the three-match series by a 2-1 margin.

Misbah-ul-Haq (59 not out) blasted Jehan Mubarak for a six to seal Pakistan’s first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2006 as the visitors chased down a daunting 377-run target in the second session of the final day.

Shan Masood (125) was the only Pakistan batsman to fall on Tuesday, having added 242 runs with Khan to turn the match on its head after Sri Lanka had seized control. Shot out for 215 in the first innings and reeling at 13-2 in the second, Pakistan’s victory also saw them jump three places up to third in the Test rankings.

Misbah-ul-Haq said: “This series means a lot to me. It was a dream, after losing two-three series here. The way they [Khan and Masood] played, they took the game away from Sri Lanka. And once you have this sort of partnership at the top, it was an easy job for us.”

Pakistan began the final day needing 147 for a memorable win and off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal drew Masood out of his crease with flight and turn to have him stumped. Khan, however, continued to play with his characteristic fluency and was unbeaten after registering his 11th 150-plus score in Test cricket, the most by any batsman from his country.

The 37-year-old batted for more than seven hours, also becoming the first batsman to score five fourth innings centuries in Test cricket. He said: “It was not easy but I have my own expectations from myself, to do well when the team is under pressure. I take the onus on myself to take my team to victory.”

Mathews, who struck a defiant century in Sri Lanka’s second innings, did not hide his disappointment, saying: “I thought at 376 we were sitting pretty, but that was not the case. We’ll take definitely a lot of time to digest this defeat.”

Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who claimed 24 wickets in three matches, won the man of the series award. — Reuters

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 278 (Karunaratne 130, Yasir 5-78) and 313 (Mathews 122, Chandimal 67, Imran 5-58); Pakistan 215 (Sarfraz 78no, Azhar 52) and 380 for 3 (Younis 171no, Masood 125, Misbah 59no)