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Malik's century lifts pakistan



former captain shoaib malik hit an unbeaten 106to put pakistan on course for a face-sving victory in the third and final test against srilanka today.
pakistan, who lost the first two tests to hand srilanka a decisive lead in the series, finally flexed thier batting muscle to pile up 300-5 in their second innings by stumps opn ther third day. Kamran Akmal returned unbeaten on 60 after adding 114 for the unbroken sixth wicket with malik as pakistan established an overall lead of 366 runs with five wickets in hand . srilanka will need to put on their best batting display in their series to record a 3-0 sweep over the remaining two days.
pakistan appeared to have thrown away the advantage of a 66 runs first innings lead when, starting the day at 16-1, they lost three wuicks wickets to slip to 67-4 before lunch. Malik and mishbah- ul haq led the fightbak with a 119- runs stand for the fifth wicket.
masbah made 65 before he gifted his wicket after tea,at- tempting a wild heave off seamer angelo mathews that took the edge to wicket0 keeper kumar asngakkara. malik reached his second test century just before close by lofting run-arm spinner rangana herath for a six, having survived a missed stumping by asngakkara in the bowler's previous over.
sri lankan coach trevor bayliss conceded the host missed a second spinner along side herath after dropping ajantha Mendis to accomodate veteran seamer chaminda vaas for his final test. vass was kept otu of the firing line till the 33rd over on wednesday before sending down 14 unsuccessful overs for 29 runs.
"we lacked a bit af variety in the attack," said bayliss. "But we stuck it out there. Pakistan Batted very well and showed what we need to do when our turn comes." pakistan had added just six runs to their overnight score when fawad alam fended and a short ball from left-0arm seamer thilan thushara and spooned an easy catch to the bowler. Left-hand- ed alam, who hit 168 on his de-but in the second test,scored 16 in each innings here.
Younus khan looked solid while making 19 when he was unfortunate to be given leg-be-fore wicket to nuwan kulaksek-era by umpire Ian gound. television replays showed an inside edge off the bat. Younus walked back dejected as pakistan slipped to 54-3, just 120 runs ahead .veteran Mohammad yousuf was on 23 when he poked at a good length delivery from left-arm spinner Herath and edged a catch to wicket keeper sangakkara
SCORE BOARD
PAKISTAN--- 1ST innings: 299
SRILANKA--- 1ST INNINGS: 233
PAKISTAN---2ND INNINGS(OVERNIGHTY 16-1)

F alam........c and b...............thushara...........16
Y khan.......lbw......................b kulasekera.....19
M yousuf. c S'kkara.............b herath.............23
M haq......... c S'kkara............b Mathews.......65
S Malik........not out.........................................106
K Akmal......not out..........................................60

Extras:
9(b6,lb2,w1)

Total: 300/5

foW: 1-16, 2-22,3-54,4-67,5-186
srilanka bowling:kulasekera 15-5-33-1
Thushara 19-2-84-1. Herath 37-6-113-2,
Vaas 14-6-29-0, Mathews 10-1-33-1