PALLEKELE: Younis Khan steered his team towards a historic victory over Sri Lanka as Pakistan chased down a mammoth 377 on the final day to clinch the third Test and the three-match series on Wednesday.
Shan Masood fell for 125 but Younis Khan continued from where he left off on the fourth as Pakistan closed in on the total for the loss of just three wickets at the Pallekle International Stadium.
Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal drew Masood out of his crease with flight and beat him with turn to have him stumped but not before the opener had added 242 runs with Younis to turn the match on its head.
Younis was unbeaten on 171 with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (59) at the other end as the visitors registered a remarkable win.
Even after Masood departed after scoring 125, Younus played with characteristic fluency, hitting 18 boundaries in his unbeaten 271-ball knock.
Pakistan entered the final day’s play needing a further 147 runs with eight wickets in hand on a wearing, but easy-paced Pallekele pitch.
It is the first time a visiting team have scored more than 300 runs in the fourth innings to win a Test on Sri Lankan soil.
Pakistan’s previous highest successful chase is 314, made against Australia in Karachi in 1994.
Pakistan won the first Test in Galle by 10 wickets and Sri Lanka took the second in Colombo by seven wickets.
