Pakistan struggles to force draw, reaches 66-4

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) Pakistan was reduced to 66-4 at lunch as it battled to salvage a draw on the fifth and final day of the first test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The visitors still trail by 16 runs to overcome a first innings deficit of 82, with Azhar Ali not out on 18 and captain Misbah-ul-Haq unbeaten on 7.

Rangana Herath (2-14) got the prize wicket of Younis Khan (13) just before lunch when the leftarm spinner bowled the first innings century-maker off a straight delivery.

Khan overtook legendary Sachin Tendulkar's (1,995) most test runs against Sri Lanka when he straight drove fast bowler Shaminda Eranga for his second four before he was undone by Herath's magnificent delivery that hit the top of off stump.

Resuming at 4-1 overnight, Pakistan scored only four boundaries in the session after nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (4) was caught behind off Dhammika Prasad in the eighth over of the day.

Herath and offspinner Dilruwan Perera bowled to a tight line and length as Pakistan found runs hard to come by as Ahmed Shehzad and Ali focused on protecting their wickets, rather than look for scoring shots.

Shehzad could have overturned English umpire Ian Gould's lbw decision against him off Perera, but didn't use the Decision Review System and walked off after scoring a painstaking 16 off 74 balls.

Television replays clearly indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.