Record-breaking Pakistan claims Test series in Sri Lanka after 9 years

Pakistan recorded their highest ever successful run chase in Test history to defeat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in the third Test and win the series 2-1 at Pallekelle on Tuesday.

 Younis Khan also known as ‘King of Fourth Innings’ played a splendid innings of 171* together with young Shan Masood (125) to help his country chase down 377. Younis Khan is the only batsman in Test history to score five hundreds in the fourth innings. Younis and Misbah finished off the match with a terrific unbroken 127-run stand for the 4th wicket.

Pakistan’s previous highest successful chase was 314 runs against Australia to win the Karachi Test way back in 1994.This is the first time a visiting team scored more than 300 runs to win a Test on Sri Lankan soil. Incidentally this is the sixth-highest successful run chase in the history of Test cricket. 

Pakistan won the first Test match in Galle by 10 wickets and few days later, Sri Lanka bounced back in Colombo to beat the visitors by 7 wickets in the second match. With this victory, Pakistan has advanced to the number 3 spot in ICC Test team rankings.

Pakistan vaults into third place in ICC Test Championship table

The visitors resumed the chase of 377 from their overnight score of 230/2. Left-handed Shan Masood and Younis Khan added 25 runs in the first hour before Masood was undone by Tharindu Kaushal’s spin and flight. The opener was stumped brilliantly by Chandimal at the score of 255. The fall of Masood for a 233-ball 125 ended a gallant match-winning 242-run stand for the 3rd wicket which paved the victory for Pakistan. The gritty knock of Masood contained 11 fours and a six. 

Younis Khan and Misbah Ul-Haq toyed with the young off-spinner at will and bludgeoned the Lankan bowling after lunch to race to victory. Misbah got to his half-century with a stunning slog off Kaushal and he finished off the chase with a towering six off Jehan Mubarak to seal off a landmark victory. 

Sri Lanka skipper added views to the media after the loss, “It was disappointing. I thought we were sitting pretty when he had 377. This was a really good game after both sides were even. The Pakistan bowlers were brilliant in the second innings. Pakistan deserved to win and they played better cricket than us.” 

Captain Marvel, Mathews bats Sri Lanka to a 291-run lead

The biggest setback for the hosts’ was their young off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal leaking 153 runs in 31 overs in an unimpressive economy rate of 4.93. Angelo Mathews’ valiant century in the second innings to set a target of 377 was completely undone by Younis Khan led brilliant run chase by the Pakistanis.

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) – 382/3 in 103.1 overs: Shan Masood 125, Younis Khan 171*, Misbah Ul-Haq 59*, Tharindu Kaushal 1/153.

Man of the Match – Younis Khan (Pakistan)
Man of the Series – Yasir Shah (Pakistan)

Full Scorecard (Courtesy – BBC Sport)

Sri Lanka 1st Innings278 all out (89.5 overs)

Pakistan 1st Innings215 all out (66.0 overs)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings313 all out (95.4 overs)

Pakistan 2nd Innings382 for 3 (103.1 overs)