The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw on the fifth and final day in Abu Dhabi on Saturday after Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad hit half-centuries.
Hafeez finished with 80 not out for his ninth Test half-century, his first in 11 innings, while Ahmed Shehzad notched his maiden fifty on his debut as Pakistan, set 302 runs in a possible of 67 overs, finished on 2-158.
The second Test starts in Dubai on Wednesday and the third will be played in Sharjah from January 16.
It was a moral victory for the Sri Lankans who were in a danger of losing after conceding a 179-run lead in the first innings and were 4-186 after the third day, leading by just seven runs with six wickets intact.
Skipper Angelo Mathews hit a career-best 157 not out to pull his team out of danger on the fourth day when they lost just one wicket for 234 runs.
The target always looked beyond Pakistan’s reach as their best winning chase in all Tests was 314 against Australia in Karachi in 1994.
The home side lost opener Khurram Manzoor early, caught behind off paceman Suranga Lakmal after scoring eight, and Shehzad was trapped leg-before by spinner Rangana Herath soon after tea for 55.
Mathews said he was happy with his team’s fightback.
“Pretty happy with the result and hope to continue like this in the series,” said the man-of-the-match.
“We were in a spot of bother after the third day but I am happy that we came good in batting and forced a draw.”
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq was disappointed at his side’s batting collapse in the first innings.
“It was a pretty even match. We dominated the first three days but they came back strongly,” said Misbah, who also scored a century.
“We need to improve our batting because the way we lost six wickets for 50-odd runs was not good and also our bowling when the wicket is not conducive.”
Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 5-480 after batting for 90 minutes, showing they had safety on their minds.
It was the unfinished sixth-wicket 156-run stand between Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene (63 not out) that ended all hopes of a Pakistani win.
Pacemen Junaid Khan finished with 3-93, while Bilawal Bhatti took 2-146.
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took 18 wickets in Pakistan’s 1-0 win over Sri Lanka in 2011, finished wicket-less in his 49 overs, conceding 115 runs -- only the fifth time that he failed to get a wicket in an innings in his 31 Tests. (AAP)
