24 February,2009 02:01 PM IST | | AFP
Pakistan's new captain Younis Khan was on course for a fabulous double century on Tuesday as he guided the home team towards safety on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Younis was unbeaten on 178 with Faisal Iqbal yet to open his account as the home team reached 358-4 by lunch in reply to the tourists' 644-7 declared, just 87 runs from avoiding the follow-on.
Sri Lanka managed only one wicket in the first session as the flat National Stadium pitch continued to yield little for the bowlers.
Pakistan were in a tight corner when they resumed at 296-3 but Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq (42) gave no chances to the Sri Lankan attack, adding 130 runs for the fourth wicket.
Younis, 149 overnight, moved to 150 in the second over with a single and remained as calm as he was throughout Monday. He has so far hit 20 boundaries during his eight hours and 11 minutes stay at the crease.
Haq, who scored successive hundreds in Pakistan's last two Tests -- against India in 2007 -- also grew in confidence, lofting Ajantha Mendis for a six over long-on to bring Pakistan to within 100 runs of avoiding the follow-on.
Veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas came close to dismissing Haq when he drew the batsman out of his crease but wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, standing close, failed to gather the ball.
It was Vaas' pace partner Dilhara Fernando who provided the breakthrough when he trapped Haq leg-before in the penultimate over before lunch.
Veteran Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who got his only wicket on Sunday, and new sensation Mendis, who took his solitary wicket on Monday, failed to create any problems for the batsmen.
The second Test will start in Lahore from Sunday.
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