An unbeaten century by veteran batsman Younis Khan led Pakistan out of early trouble on Wednesday’s opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
After winning the toss, Pakistan were 4-261 at stumps, Younis rescuing the tourists from a precarious 3-56 just before lunch.
At the close, Younis remained 133 not out, his 24th Test century, and Asad Shafiq was on 55. The pair have put on 105 for the fifth wicket.
Skipper Misbah-ul Haq scored 31 in a steadying 100-run stand with Younis who hit 11 fours and a six in his 90th Test.
Younis twice used the Decision Review System successfully and overturned umpiring decisions in equalling countryman Mohammad Yousuf’s record of 24 Test hundreds.
He also had a lucky escape on 68 when Mahela Jayawardene, playing for the last time at Galle, dropped a sitter.
Pakistan’s top order batsmen showed rustiness from a long layoff of more than six months since playing their last Test match when they defeated Sri Lanka in January in Sharjah.
In the morning session, seamer Dhammika Prasad (2-33 from 11 overs) removed both openers, bowling Ahmed Shehzad for four to leave Pakistan at 1-4 and trapping Khurram Manzoor lbw for three (2-19).
Rangana Herath then bowled Azhar Ali for 30 (3-56) after Pakistan elected to bat under overcast conditions at the Galle International Stadium.
Sri Lanka’s most accomplished batsman and former captain Mahela Jayawardene led the team onto the field and was given a guard of honour by schoolchildren with raised bats. He will retire from the longer format of the game after the second Test in Colombo.
The start was delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. Bad weather has been forecast on all five days of the Test.
Both teams went in with two spinners – Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman for Pakistan, and Herath and Dilruwan Perera for the hosts – hoping the grassless pitch provides some turn later in the match.
Giant posters of Jayawardene, who is sixth in the all-time scorers’ list with 11,671 runs in 147 Tests, adorned the Galle International Stadium where some 2000 home fans were present.
