A spectacular unbroken 217-run stand between Shan Masood and Younis Khan completely changed the complexion of the 3rd Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the end of day four at Pallekelle.
Chasing a historic 377 runs in the fourth innings to win the match and series, Masood slammed his maiden Test ton while Younis slammed his 30th Test ton as the visitors are well on-course of the target against the less-experienced Lankan bowling attack.
With the intriguing final day to come, Pakistan ended day four on 230 for 2 and they need 147 runs more with 8 wickets in hand. Before the Pakistan’s emergence, skipper Angelo Mathews stroked his 5th Test ton to propel the Lankan second innings to 313 and set the target for the visitors.
Masood brought up his maiden Test ton in only his 5th match with a huge six over to the sightscreen off Kaushal and Younish got to his landmark in the final over of the day against the same bowler. The Lankan spinner was taken to the cleaners by both batsmen in his disappointing spell of 20 overs for 92 runs, without a single wicket.
Both Pakistani players used their feet excellently against the spinners and were very patient for the loose delivery from the pacers after they got together in the post-lunch session when the score was 13 for 2. If Pakistan chases down this target, this will be their highest run chase in the history of Test cricket.
Masood was saved by a controversial DRS call by the umpire in the 45th over off Mathews when the ball clearly missed the bat and hit the back pad but there was no conclusive evidence to overrule the on-field call.
Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal and Mathews started off the day’s proceedings brightly for the hosts’ scoring 50 runs in 94 balls and extending their valuable 6th wicket stand to 117 runs. Chandimal reached his 7th Test half-ton and continued to stroke elegant strokes in an excellent innings but he fell when the team score was 278, five overs after Pakistan took the new ball. Imran Khan pinned down Chandimal right in front to end his 103-ball knock of 67.
Dhammika Prasad walked out to middle and received a stunning first ball from Imran Khan which took the outside edge straight to wicket-keeper as the Lankan fast-bowler bagged a ‘King Pair’, second Sri Lankan to be dismissed in the very first ball in both innings.
Tharindu Kaushal and Suranga Lakmal could not support Mathews for a long time as they were unable to keep up with the testing outside the off-stump line by Imran Khan with the new ball.
Angelo Mathews fell at the stroke of lunch chasing a wide delivery as he cracked 12 fours and a six. Imran Khan’s exceptional spell of 5.3 overs with the new ball gave away only 19 runs to claim his maiden five-for while Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for only 35 runs.
Pakistan began their chase in a dismal way as the Lankan seamer, Suranga Lakmal claimed his 50th Test wicket when he castled Ahmed Shehzad for a duck in the second over after lunch. Pakistan’s most successful batsman, Azhar Ali then lashed his bat to a wide delivery in the leg-side to only give a simple catch to the wicket-keeper as the visitors were struggling at 13 for 2.
Sri Lanka – 278 all out in 89.5 overs: Dimuth Karunarathne 130, Upul Tharanga 46, Jehan Mubarak 25, Dinesh Chandimal 24, Yasir Shah 5/78, Azhar Ali 2/35, Rahat Ali 3/74.
Pakistan – 215 all out in 66 overs: Ahmed Shehzad 21, Azhar Ali 52, Sarfraz Ahmed 78*, Dhammika Prasad 3/78, Nuwan Pradeep 3/29, Tharindu Kaushal 3/37.
Sri Lanka (2nd inn) – 313 all out in 95.4 overs: Upul Tharanga 48, Angelo Mathews 122, Jehan Mubarak 35, Dinesh Chandimal 67, Rahat Ali 2/82, Yasir Shah 2/80, Imran Khan 5/58.
Pakistan (2nd inn) – 230/2 in 63 overs: Shan Masood 114*, Younis Khan 101*, Suranga Lakmal 1/34, Dhammika Prasad 1/42.
