The hosts declared at a mammoth 765 for six on the fifth day before Sri Lanka finished on 144 for five, a lead of 23.

Pakistan’s first innings surpassed the 708 they made against England at the Oval in 1987.

Home captain Younis, who was chasing Brian Lara’s record Test innings of 400 when he started the day on 306 not out, added seven runs before he was bowled by a ball from paceman Dilhara Fernando that nipped back into him.

Younis batted for 768 minutes and 568 balls in a marathon effort that included 27 fours and four sixes.

“I didn’t go out specifically for the record, I don’t go for records,” he told reporters.

“I am more of a team man but this innings is special to me as it is my first test as captain and it allowed me to show the way to the other players.”

Wicketkeeper Akmal, who had resumed on 27, compiled his sixth Test century as he cracked 158 not out from 184 balls with eight fours and five sixes.

Yasir Arafat (50 not out) also notched his maiden test half-century before the declaration came.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BOOST
Younis was pleased with the way Pakistan reacted after Sri Lanka amassed 644 for seven in their first innings.

“It’s a psychological boost for us to end the Test this way,” he said. “I thought we fought back well after allowing them to score over 600 on the first two days.”

Sri Lanka slid to 45 for three in their second innings, seamer Umar Gul removing Malinda Warnapura for two and Tillekaratne Dilshan for eight while debutant Tharanga Paranavitana was run out for nine.

Kumar Sangakarra steadied the ship with 65 before he was trapped lbw by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Sri Lanka’s early troubles were a sharp contrast to the first four days when a flat track gave up 1,218 runs for the loss of 12 wickets.

Visiting skipper Mahela Jayawardene said the pitch was too easy for the batsmen.

“It was very hard work for the bowlers,” he said. “I hope the wicket for the second Test is nothing like the one they had here.”

Jayawardene scored 240 as he featured in a world record partnership of 437 for the fourth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (231).
The second and final Test in Lahore starts on Sunday.

SRI LANKA first innings 644-7 dec (M. Jayawardene 240,
T. Samaraweera 231)
Pakistan first innings (overnight 574-5)
K. Manzoor c P. Jayawardene b Mendis 27
S. Butt c M. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 23
Y. Khan b Fernando 313
S. Malik run out 56
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Fernando 42
F. Iqbal lbw b M. Jayawardene 57
K. Akmal not out 158
Y. Arafat not out 50
Extras (b-4 lb-12 w-5 nb-18) 39
Total: (six wickets dec., 248.5 overs) 765
Fall of wickets: 1-44 2-78 3-227 4-357 5-531 6-596
Bowling: Vaas 36-10-66-0 (nb-8), Fernando 39-2-124-2 (nb-7, w-1), Mendis 59-14-157-1 (nb-3, w-1), Muralitharan 65-14-172-1, Dilshan 19-3-82-0, Paranavitana 5-0-33-0, Sangakarra 10-0-34-0, Jayawardene 6.5-0-41-1, Warnapura 9-0-40-0

SRI LANKA second innings
N. Paranavitana run out 9
M. Warnapura c Akmal b Gul 2
K. Sangakkara lbw b Kaneria 65
T. Dilshan c Iqbal b Gul 8
M. Jayawardene c Iqbal b Kaneria 22
T. Samaraweera not out 24
P. Jayawardene not out 7
Extras (nb-7) 7
Total (five wickets, 31 overs) 144
Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-32 3-45 4-103 5-120
Bowling: Gul 9-1-41-2 (nb-4), S. Khan 6-0-33-0, Arafat 6-0-32-0 (nb-1), Kaneria 9-1-35-2, Malik 1-0-3-0 (nb-2)