Pakistan take series with scintillating chase

Pakistan 215 & 382-3 (Younis 171 no) beat
Sri Lanka 278 & 313 (Mathews 122) by seven wickets
Third Test, Pallekele, day five
Scorecard

Younis Khan finished with an unbeaten 171 to guide Pakistan to 382 for three, their biggest successful fourth innings chase, to win the third Test by seven wickets in Pallekele and with it, the series against Sri Lanka 2-1.

Pakistan resumed the day on 230 for two after 63 overs with two overnight centurions, Younis (171 not out) and Shan Masood (125).

Masood had a nervous moment early on when Sri Lanka appealed for caught behind almost spontaneously only for the umpire to turn it down. They had consumed both their reviews by then.

However, Masood departed fairly quickly, throwing his wicket away, charging down the track and missing the ball to be stumped, off Tharindu Kaushal (1-153). That ended a record 242-run third wicket partnership.

Pakistan were 256 for three after 74 overs, with 121 still to get. Sri Lanka took the new ball as soon as it was available.

Younis Khan survived a very close lbw call which Sri Lanka reviewed, now that they had two reviews after completing 80 overs. It was umpire’s call. That was about the only chance Younis gave all morning.

Misbah-ul-Haq (59 not out) was solid on the other end as well getting some handsome fours.
Nuwan Pradeep (0-51) went for two fours in the 88th over and that took Pakistan to 300 for three.
Pakistan went into lunch at 321 for three, requiring just 56 more runs to win.

Younis brought up his 150 with a couple, becoming only the second Pakistan batsman to score a second innings 150 after Salim Malik.

He took Pakistan closer to the target with two fours off Kaushal in the 100th over as they needed just 28 more runs to win.

Dhammika Prasad (1-65) was tonked for 13 runs the next over, including three fours, two of them hit by Misbah.

The Pakistan skipper brought up his own half-century the next over with two back to back fours and then finished the game the subsequent over with a six.

Pakistan won the game by seven wickets to register their highest chase and the sixth highest overall.

It was also their highest fourth innings total. Pakistan have now jumped to number three on the International Cricket Council Test rankings with the series win.

© Cricket World 2015