By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan captain Younis Khan fell in his chase for a world record but enabled his team to get past Sri Lanka’s mammoth 644-7 declared in the first innings by lunch on the fifth day of their first Test here at the National Stadium Wednesday.
Pakistan were 596-6, 48 runs behind Sri Lanka’s first inning total, after Younis
departed for 313. Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal (89 not out) and all-rounder Yasir Arafat (17 not out) guided Pakistan to 662-6 at lunch, giving the host team an 18-run lead.
At stumps Tuesday, Younis had indicated that he would try to break Brian Lara’s record of 400 in an innings against England at Antigua.
But his hopes were ended by a good length delivery from Dilhara Fernando that nipped in sharply from the off stump to clip the bails. Younis made 313 off 568 balls, adding just seven runs to his Tuesday’s total, hitting 27 fours and four sixes in his match-saving knock.
Akmal’s unbeaten 89 came off 137 balls with six fours and a six. Arafat’s sedate 17 came after facing 81 balls and included one boundary.