Younis Khan was 306 not out for his career best score at stumps on the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, almost ensuring the match in Karachi will be drawn.

Younis, who has now batted in seven consecutive sessions of play from the evening of day two, steered Pakistan to virtual safety on 574-5 in reply to Sri Lanka 644-7 declared.

He could now target Brian Lara's world record score of 400 given that the match is likely to see no winner so milestones are all Pakistan have to chase. The more time Sri Lanka are in the field, the more tired their bowlers will be for Sunday's second Test, also.

Overnight batsman Misbah-ul-Haq fell lbw to Dilhara Fernando for 42, while Karachi native Faisal Iqbal was lbw to non-bowler Mahela Jayawardene for 57 as Pakistan avoided the follow on. Kamran Akmal was on 27 with Younis.

Misbah and Faisal each played instrumental roles in not only partnering Younis but also but batting a collective 444 minutes in the game and so reducing Sri Lanka's victory hopes. 

Younis has single-handedly kept Pakistan in the match with his 16th Test hundred that surpassed his previous best of 267, made against India at Bangalore in 2005. The current effort is also his highest first-class score.

He will now be targeting Hanif Mohammed's Pakistan record score of 334 that was recorded 50 years ago against West Indies. Inzamam-ul-Haq (329 against New Zeal;and in 2002) is the only other Pakistani to have passed 300 in a Test.  

In his 59th match the recently-appointed Pakistan captain took his Test career average to 52, from below 50 before the game. Younis is the sixth Pakistani to 5,000 Test runs and is now fifth on the list having already passed Zaheer Abbas. The others are Javed Miandad, Inzamam, Mohammed Yousuf and Salim Malik.

The placid nature of the pitch at the National Stadium has attracted some criticism for not offering enough assistance to the bowlers. The world’s most successful Test bowler ever Muttiah Muralitharan has struggled, with figures of 1-165 from 60 overs, while his spin twin Ajantha Mendis has 1-135 from 55 overs.

The second and final Test is at Lahore on Sunday.