GALLE, Sri Lanka: Pakistan's Younis Khan continued to frustrate Sri Lanka on Thursday as the tourists progressed to a solid 347-5 at lunch on the second day of the first test.
Khan, 133 overnight, moved to 171 off 315 balls with 15 fours and a six as Sri Lanka managed only one wicket in the morning session. Sarfraz Ahmed was the other not-out batsman at lunch, on 28.
Khan raised his 150 with a superb four through cover off fast bowler Shaminda Eranga, who later dropped a two-handed return catch on his follow-through which could have dismissed Khan on 156.
Khan and Shafiq watchfully played out the first hour and added 32 more runs, stretching their partnership to 137, before Rangana Herath (3-100) got the breakthrough, trapping Asad Shafiq leg before wicket with an arm ball after the batsman had added 20 to his overnight 55.
Shafiq, whose No. 6 spot in the side was under scrutiny, hit eight fours and two sixes in his 147-ball knock that could cement his place. Ahmed and Khan upped the scoring rate with some neat drives and had contributed 54 runs at a healthy 4.20 an over.
Khan used his feet well against Herath and didn't hesitate to sweep the left-arm spinner with utmost control as the pitch flattened out. Ahmed has hit three fours in his little cameo off 32 balls as Sri Lanka bowlers struggled to contain both batsmen in the last hour before the break.
