Pallekele: 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, here, on Monday.
Set a challenging target of 377, the visitors recovered from a shaky 13 for two to move to 230 without further loss of wickets at stumps on the rain-free penultimate day.
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 final over.
With this hundred, Younis became the first Test batsman in history to score five centuries in the fourth innings. The pair have 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 at the Pallekele International Stadium. If Pakistan win, it will be the first time for a visiting team to score 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 captain Angelo Mathews was last man out for 122 as the hosts took their overnight total of 228 for five to 313 before they were all out at the stroke of lunch. Pakistan pacer Imran Khan took all the five wickets that fell in the morning session in a space of 33 balls.
Mathews, who came in to bat on Sunday afternoon with his team reduced to 35 for three, anchored the innings for more than six hours, hitting 12 boundaries and a six.
Delighted with his maiden five-wicket haul, Imran stressed it was a team effort that has got Pakistan this far in the match. “We believed a turnaround was possible and we showed that today,” he said.
“We had made up our minds not to give up and rather, take inspiration from our positives. Shan and Younis were really good, and I am confident they will bring us victory.”
Pakistan, starting their second innings after lunch, were dealt a blow before a run had been scored when seamer Suranga Lakmal bowled Ahmed Shehzad to claim his 50th Test wicket. Sri Lanka struck again in the seventh over when Azhar Ali was caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal off Dhammika Prasad for five.
Masood, on 79, was fortunate to survive a close shout for leg-before by Mathews, who asked for a review after on-field umpire Paul Reiffel had turned down the appeal. Replays proved inconclusive as to whether the ball had hit the bat, but with both Hot Spot and Snicko technologies not available for this series, the TV umpire gave the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.
Chandimal believes the Test is not out of Sri Lanka's reach yet. “Look, a few wickets early tomorrow could change the game, so I am hopeful,” he said.
“All credit to the Pakistan batsmen for the way they have played. But tomorrow is a new day.”
(Agencies)
