Younis Khan led from the front as Pakistan fought back on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi.
Younis, in his first Test since being installed as captain last month, hit an unbeaten 149 as Pakistan inched closer to avoiding the follow-on, in reply to Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 644 for seven declared. He shared in a 149-run stand for the third wicket with Shoaib Malik, which was ended when the latter was run out for 56.
At stumps, Pakistan were 296 for three, still 348 runs behind. Misbah-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 20.
Younis adopted a safety-first approach at the start, although Sri Lanka had their chances against him. He survived a good shout for leg before off Ajantha Mendis before he reached his half-century with a risky single. After that Younis began to exert a little more authority, mixing delectable drives with risky reverse sweep shots.
He was dropped by Tillakaratne Dilshan on 92, although the chance was a difficult one at short midwicket. He brought up his 16th Test century with a two off Dilhara Fernando.
Malik had started briskly, getting off the mark with a boundary off Fernando and hitting the bowler for two more in his next two overs. The former captain then curbed his strokeplay and settled down to provide a foil for Younis.
Malik offered the wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene a difficult chance when on 15 but went on to reach his seventh Test half-century. He fell shortly after, attempting a single off Mendis and falling short of the crease at the non-striker's end when Muttiah Muralitharan rattled the stumps with his throw.
Mahela Jayawardene had shuffled his bowlers around as the day wore on and he even gave Muralitharan, his key spinner, a spell with the second new ball in the final session.
Misbah, however, defended resolutely and with Younis he has added 69 runs for the fourth wicket.
Mendis had given Sri Lanka a bright start when he dismissed the opener Khurram Manzoor in the morning. Manzoor, playing his first Test, had batted steadily in the first hour but he struggled when the spinners came on. He almost presented Muralitharan with a second wicket when he went back to defend a wickedly-turning delivery, but got just enough bat on it to edge it past the keeper.
Mendis struck on his introduction in the 12th over of the day. Manzoor went back to defend a delivery but the ball span away, clipping the outside edge. Prasanna Jayawardene took the catch.
