Karachi, July 05: Mohammad Yousuf hit an unbeaten 82 on his return to big-time cricket after 18 months to lead Pakistan’s fightback in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Misbah-ul-Haq chipped in with 56 as Pakistan, replying to Sri Lanka’s 292, recovered from 80-4 to post 225-5 by tea on the second day at the Galle International Stadium.
Yousuf and Misbah put on 139 for the fifth wicket after batting through a major part of the post-lunch session which was extended by half-an-hour to make up for the 36-minute interruption due to rain.
Yousuf, who turns 35 next month, had not played in Tests since December 2007 after being banned by the Pakistan board for his involvement with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.
But the prolific right-hander was recalled for the current tour after breaking links with the rebel body and showed no signs of rustiness as he neared his 24th Test century.
Yousuf has so far batted fluently for three hours and 12 minutes, hitting seven boundaries.
Misbah provided valuable support with nine fours before he fell shortly before tea, caught in the slips by Mahela Jayawardene off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
Pakistan, starting the day at 15-2, lost two more wickets on the second morning to give Sri Lanka the early advantage.
Abdur Rauf, who took two wickets on his Test debut on Saturday, proved his batting worth as a nightwatchman by scoring 31 of Pakistan’s first 40 runs in the morning session.
Rauf put on 50 for the third wicket with skipper Younus Khan when he fell to Nuwan Kulasekera, caught by makeshift wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan just before the drinks break.
Dilshan was forced to don the gloves because first choice Prasanna Jayawardene was unavailable due to injury and skipper Kumar Sangakkara, the one-day ‘keeper, preferred to guide the bowlers from the outfield.
Dilshan took his second catch four overs later when debutant Angelo Mathews struck in his first over to remove a tentative Younus for 25.
The Pakistan captain found the boundary only twice during his 90-minute stay at the crease.
The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 while the squad was en route to resume a Test match.
The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and killed eight local security men.
The two teams recently contested the World Twenty20 final in England where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka 1st innings 292 T. Paranavitana 72, A. Mathews 42, Mohammad Aamer 3-74
Pakistan 1st innings overnight 15-2
Khurram Manzoor lbw b Thushara 2
Salman Butt b Kulasekera 0
Younus Khan c Dilshan b Mathews 25
Abdur Rauf c Dilshan b Kulasekera 31
Mohammad Yousuf not out 82
Misbah-ul Haq c Jayawardene b Herath 56
Shoaib Malik not out 5
Extras b8, lb9, nb6, w1 24
Total for 5 wkts, 61 overs 225
Fall of wkts 1-1, 2-5, 3-55, 4-80, 5-219
Bowling
Kulasekera 16-2-44-2, Thushara 16-2-56-1 (nb3), Mendis 15-2-52-0 (nb3), Mathews 7-2-19-1 (w1), Herath 7-0-37-1
—–Agencies