YOUNIS Khan struck a century for Pakistan but three wickets in the final session left Sri Lanka holding a slight advantage at stumps on day three of the third and final Test in Sharjah.
Younis scored 122 and shared in a century stand with captain Misbah-ul-Haq (50 not out) to help Pakistan into a good position just after tea at 233 for three in reply to Sri Lanka’s first-innings 413.
However, the dismissal of Younis along with those of Asad Shafiq (16) and Adnan Akmal (seven) saw Pakistan slip to 282 for six at the close, still 131 runs behind Sri Lanka heading into the penultimate day.
The Sri Lankans will now hope to put the Pakistan tail under pressure with some early wickets this morning and earn a useful first-innings advantage as they attempt to level up the series at 1-1.
Younis and Azhar Ali were at the crease when their team resumed the day on 35 for two, having lost both openers cheaply on Friday evening.
And although they began slowly, the runs soon began to flow before Azhar’s stay at the crease was ended on 53 by Kosala Kulasekara, who removed the batsman’s middle stump.
Younis continued to get the better of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, though, and brought up his 18th Test hundred in the final over before tea with a drive towards cover. His ton came from 188 balls and included 11 fours and a six.
Alongside Younis, Misbah was also going well and the pair had put on exactly 100 before Sri Lanka struck again, and it was the prized wicket of the centurion. Chanaka Welegedara managed to sneak a delivery past Younis’ bat to bowl the 33-year-old and give his side a much-needed breakthrough.
Welegedara then struck again to dismiss Shafiq caught behind and the Sri Lankans made a third breakthrough before the close when Rangana Herath trapped Pakistan wicketkeeper Akmal lbw. (PA Sport)

SRI LANKA first innings 413
Pakistan first innings (overnight 35-2)
M. Hafeez c Jayawardene b Welegedara    6
T. Umar stp. Silva b Herath    19
A. Ali b Kulasekara    53
Y. Khan b Welegedara    122
Misbah-ul Haq not out    50
A. Shafiq c Silva b Welegedara    16
A. Akmal lbw b Herath    7
A. Rehman not out    3
Extras: (nb-3, w-2, lb-1)    6
Total: (six wickets, 110 overs)    282
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-35, 3-133, 4-233, 5-258, 6-277.
Bowling (to date): Welegedara 25-7-62-3 (w-2), Prasad 4-0-9-0, Kulasekara 21-7-55-1 (nb-3), Herath 32-10-73-2 (w-1), Randiv 21-5-64-0, Dilshan 7-1-18-0.