Leaving the visitors the sixth highest run chase in the history of Test cricket to win a match in the last day and half, would give any captain much cause for buoyancy. The confidence would further be cemented by the fact that the team staring down the barrel of that daunting target aren’t considered to be decent run-chasers. And yet, for the second time in a year and a half Pakistan miraculously chased down a score of over 300 against Angelo Matthews’ Sri Lanka.
The records shattered on Tuesday alone would suffice in filling up this space – and some. The 377 target hunted down by Misbahul Haq’s side was the highest ever score chased by Pakistan. Younis Khan’s 30th century that edged him to within 18 runs of Javed Miandad’s record tally of 8,832, was his fifth in the fourth innings of a Test match – a record for any batsman. Younis Khan’s 242-run third wicket partnership with Shan Masood was the highest in the fourth innings by a Pakistani pair for any wicket.
Younis Khan and Shan Masood
While Pakistan broke a plethora of team records, one man singlehandedly wrote history books, as he has been doing for quite some time. From being the first Pakistani to score 30 hundreds, to now being dubbed the ‘King of the Fourth Innings’, Younis Khan is gradually staking a claim to being the country’s finest ever Test batsman. His 16 centuries in winning causes leaves him one behind Inzamam-ul-Haq as the most for any Pakistani batsman. His numbers in the last innings of a match justify his tag as a clutch player.
When Younis Khan joined Shan Masood on Day 4 with Pakistan 13/2, needing another 364 for the unlikeliest of victories, Younis had two roles to play. Considering a below par series prior to the final innings, he had to up his own game when it mattered the absolute most. Simultaneously, he had to ease the nerves of young Shan Masood, who was a part of the team only because Mohammed Hafeez had to get his action tested, after it was reported yet again. Younis, of course, played both parts exceptionally well.
As the Shan-Younis partnership flourished the hitherto domineering 377 gradually diminished. Even when Pakistan needed around 200 runs – no mean score in the last four sessions – the match looked Pakistan’s to lose.
When Pakistan ended Day 4 at 230/2 the balance of power had firmly tilted in the visitors’ favour. And yet a Pakistani batting collapse isn’t exactly an oddity.
Sarfraz Ahmed
Shan Masood finally succumbing to his exuberance making at 255/3 at the start of Day 5, gave the hosts a glimmer. It was duly blown away by the Misbah-Younis partnership that took Pakistan home. Misbah’s 59 saw him reach 4,000 Test runs and the win helped him continue to build on his legacy as arguably the greatest Test captain in Pakistan’s history.
As gigantic as the 377-run target was, it could have been a lot worse had it not been for Imran Khan’s five for on Day 4. Imran took all of the remaining five Sri Lankan wickets with some fine swing bowling, heating up the fight for places in the side as Wahab Riaz (injury) and Junaid Khan (out of form) spend some time out of the team.
While Matthews with his scintillating 122 threatened to take the match away from Pakistan in the third innings, the visitors were almost out of it when they were 152-7 in the second innings, replying to Sri Lanka’s 278. Sarfraz Ahmed, quite often Pakistan’s counter-punching man of crisis, scored a typically gutsy 78 to keep Pakistan in the game with 215 runs on the board. It was Sarfraz’ 96 that helped Pakistan instigate a 180 degree shift in momentum in the first Test as well.
The massive task might have been finished off by senior men Younis and Misbah but there’s no doubt that the foundation of Pakistan’s first Test series win over Sri Lanka for nine years is laid by the performances of the younger guns. Both Sarfraz and Azhar Ali seem to be relishing the additional responsibilities of vice captaincy and captaincy in the ODIs, while Asad Shafiq has solidified his control over the crucial number 6 batting slot. Shan Masood’s heroics in the last innings mean that Ahmed Shahzad might have to make way, after a patchy series, especially if Hafeez is cleared to bowl again.
Yasir Shah
As Younis deservedly won the Man of the Match award, the Man of the Series trophy rightly belonged to Yasir Shah whose 20 wickets in the three Tests were clearly the deciding factor between two evenly matched sides. Quite often the sole Pakistani bowler looking close to being a wicket taking threat, Yasir took the challenge in his stride, and looks to have replaced Saeed Ajmal as Pakistan’s premier spinner after only 10 Test matches. Yasir is now ranked fourth in the ICC rankings for bowlers, while Pakistan soared up to third in the team rankings.
As Pakistan continue to reaffirm itself as a Test powerhouse, especially in the sub-continent and the Emirates, the ODI series starting tomorrow is another opportunity for the transitioning limited-overs team to take steps in the right direction.
Younis Khan’s record breaking mastery is also a reminder for everyone that Misbah and Younis won’t be around forever. Azhar Ali’s ODI team, which now forms the youthful spine of the Test side as well, needs to step up to the plate and fill those massive boots.
