Pakistan ‘bold to bat first’ against Sri Lanka, coach Waqar says

Decision pays off as Younis Khan’s 133 puts hosts Sri Lanka on back foot at the end of Day 1 of the first Test.

Only Inzamam-ul-Haq (25) has more Test centuries for Pakistan than Younis Khan’s 24. Ishara S Kodikara / AFP

GALLE // Veteran batsman Younis Khan hit an unbeaten 133 to steer Pakistan out of trouble on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

The tourists, electing to bat in overcast conditions, slumped to 56 for three before Younis’s rescue act helped them recover to 261 for four when bad light ended play two overs early at the Galle International Stadium.

The 36-year-old batsman, who came to the crease in his 90th Test at 19 for two, hit 11 boundaries and a six in his 24th century. Only Inzamam-ul-Haq (25) has more Test hundreds for Pakistan.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, making a typically dour but determined 31, put on 100 for the fourth wicket with Younis before he was caught behind off left-arm spinner ­Rangana Herath.

Asad Shafiq ensured the effort did not go to waste as he saw off the second new ball to help Younis add 105 for the fifth wicket and remain unbeaten on 55.

Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis said he was delighted at the total his team was able to post after the early setbacks. “Any coach or captain will be proud of that,” the former fast bowler said.

“It all boiled down to experience. Younis has tons of it and so does Misbah. There was a lot of talk at home of whether Asad Shafiq deserved to be in the side. He showed today that he belongs to the highest level.”

Waqar said it was a bold decision by the team management and the captain to bat first despite favourable overcast conditions for the bowlers. “With so much rain around, there is bound to be some juice in the wicket and I thought we were very bold to bat first. That paid off because the wicket eased up by afternoon.”

Sri Lanka’s coach Marvan Atapattu conceded it was hard work for the bowlers after the morning session. “The moisture dried up and it became easy to bat out there,” he said. “I think we have done well to keep them down to 261, but a lot still remains to be done. This is a wicket that usually plays well on the first two days, but spin is going to be a factor later in the match.”

Younis was given a reprieve by the Decision Review System when he was on 59 after umpire Bruce Oxenford had declared him leg-before to off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, but replays showed the ball pass over the stumps.

The partnership between Younis and Misbah, 40, came after Sri Lanka dominated the morning session with three quick wickets.

The start was delayed by 30 minutes because of a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. Bad weather is 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 Perera for the hosts – hoping the grassless pitch provides some turn later in the match.

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, who is retiring from the longer format after the two-Test series, walked out to field amid bursting firecrackers as schoolchildren gave him a guard of honour with raised bats.

Giant posters of the batsman, who is sixth in the all-time scorers’ list with 11,671 runs in 147 Tests, adorned the stadium where about 2,000 home fans were present.

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