Nonetheless, Pakistan still recorded their highest-ever total in Test cricket when they declared on 765-6 (in reply to Sri Lanka’s 644-7 declared). The total surpassed the 708 all out scored at The Oval in 1987.

Kamran Akmal (pictured), who was on 27 overnight with Younis on 306, saw his captain fall early but then he himself kicked on to register his sixth Test century, 158 not out in just 184 deliveries with eight fours and five sixes. Even number eight Yasir Arafat chipped in with 50 not out on the most placid of batting surfaces.

Younis had indicated at the end of the fourth day that he would bat on long enough to give himself the opportunity to break Lara’s 400 not out record but he insisted that the extra batting time was only to serve the team’s cause rather than his own. In the event it did not matter and he fell short Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 329 and Hanif’s 334 but still remains only the third Pakistan batsman to reach 300 in a Test.

Sri Lanka were 144-5 when the match ended in an inevitable draw. Kumar Sangakkara hit a speedy 65 from 66 balls to put the match safe after a brief panic when Sri Lanka slipped to 45-3.

The second and final Test starts in Lahore on Sunday.