Younus Khan Leads The Way As Pakistan Fight Back

Younus Khan Leads The Way As Pakistan Fight Back

Younus Khan plays a shot on his way to a century on day three in Karachi.

©REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Sri Lanka 644-7 dec. (Jayawardene 240, Samaraweera 231) v
Pakistan 296-3 (Younus Khan 149no, Shoaib Malik 56)
Scorecard | Day 1: Sri Lanka In Charge | Day 2: Pakistan Wobble
1st Test, Karachi, day three: stumps

Younus Khan gave Pakistan renewed hope of avoiding the follow-on against Sri Lanka as he closed day three of the first Test unbeaten on 149, helping side to 296 for three in reply to 644 for seven declared.

Pakistan resumed the day on 44 for one having lost Salman Butt shortly before the end of day one with Younus yet to score and they soon lost Khurram Manzoor, caught by wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene off of Ajantha Mendis for 27 in 98 balls.

Younus then combined with former captain Shoaib Malik (56) to add 149 for the third wicket and keep Sri Lanka at bay for just under two sessions worth of play.

Malik hit seven fours before his 168-ball stay at the crease ended when he was superbly run out by Muttiah Muralitharan.

Not even the twin threat of Muralitharan and Mendis could dislodge Younus, however, who reached his 16th Test century in 191 balls, finishing unbeaten on 149 from 168 balls with 17 boundaries to his name.

Alongside him was Misbah-ul-Haq, who made 20 in 68 balls before stumps were drawn.

Muralitharan and Mendis got through 69 overs between them as Mahela Jayawardene persisted with just four bowlers before Tillakaratne Dilshan was given the last over of the day.

Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera both scored double-centuries to put the away side in control.

© Cricket World 2009

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