Sri Lanka is eyeing an unlikely victory in the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi following a career-best century from captain Angelo Mathews, which pulled the tourists out of trouble on the fourth day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Sri Lanka is leading by 241 runs with five wickets remaining, for which they can harbour hopes of an unlikely win on the fifth and final day, or at least salvage a draw.
According to News.com.au, Mathews notched up 116 not out for his second Test hundred and put on invaluable 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Chandimal (89) and 99 for the unfinished sixth wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene (48 not out) to take Sri Lanka to 5-420 at stumps on Friday.
Mathews batted for 370 minutes, hitting 12 boundaries and six off spinner Saeed Ajmal, who conceded 96 runs in 42 wicket-less overs, and had the better of Pakistan's three-pronged pace attack, reaching his hundred in the final session after 239 balls, the report added.