KANDY (Sri Lanka), April 5: Younis Khan and Imran Farhat each scored half-centuries to lead Pakistan to a series-clinching eight-wicket victory on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Vice-captain Younis scored a commanding unbeaten 73 from just 98 balls, crashing 12 boundaries, while opener Imran hit 11 fours in his similarly positive 65.

The pair combined to add 114 runs for the second wicket that carried the game away from the hosts, who had earlier been bowled out for just 73 in 24.5 overs, their second lowest total against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's second innings collapse had still left Pakistan chasing a potentially tricky 183 target after 28 wickets had tumbled on the first two days.

But the difficult pitch eased on a hot, clear day in the hill-country capital and Sri Lanka bowled poorly, providing the tourists with too many scoring opportunities.

Fast bowler Farveez Maharoof, struggling with a flu bug, was uncharacteristically loose and Pakistan seized the early momentum with a brisk 38-run opening stand.

Lasith Malinga made the breakthrough soon after being introduced, getting opener Kamran Akmal to edge behind, where wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara took a spectacular diving catch.

The host's were unlucky not to take any further wickets before lunch as several mistimed shots fell just short of fielders and off -spinner Muttiah Muralitharan had two very close lbw shouts against Imran turned down.

Pakistan went into lunch on 90-1 and raised the tempo soon afterwards as Younis and Imran raced to their fifties.

By the time Imran edged a Nuwan Kulasekera delivery to first slip, Pakistan were just 31 runs short of victory, leaving Younis and Mohammad Yousuf (14 not out) to reach the target midway through the afternoon session.

Before play began, Sri Lanka abandoned faint hopes that Sanath Jayasuriya would be able to bat with the aid of painkillers after dislocating his right thumb on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old, playing in his farewell Test, was too badly injured to consider batting in the second innings.

Resuming on 73-8, Sri Lanka were then bowled out with the first ball of the day as Muralitharan slogged a catch mid on.

Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq finished with 4-20 from 6.5 overs and Man-of-the-Match Mohammad Asif finished with match figures of 11-71.

The teams battled to a draw in last week's first Test in Colombo.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 279 (K.C. Sangakkara 79, T.T. Samaraweera 65; Mohammad Asif 6-44, Danish Kaneria 4-53).

PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 170 (M. Muralitharan 5-39).

SRI LANKA (2nd Innings, overnight 73-8):

W.U. Tharanga b Asif 12

K.C. Sangakkara b Asif 16

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene b Razzaq 15

T.T. Samaraweera b Asif 4

T.M. Dilshan c Kamran b Asif 11

M.F. Maharoof lbw b Asif 1

C.M. Bandara c Kamran b Razzaq 4

K.M.D.N. Kulasekara c Umar b Razzaq 6

S.L. Malinga not out 0

M. Muralitharan c Umar b Razzaq 0

S.T. Jayasuriya absent injured -

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-1) 4

TOTAL (all out, 24.5 overs) 73

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-40, 3-46, 4-56, 5-57, 6-65, 7-72, 8-73, 9-73.

BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 12-6-27-5 (1w); Rao Iftikhar 3-1-8-0; Umar Gul 3-0-15-0; Abdul Razzaq 6.5-1-20-4.

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings):

Imran Farhat c J’wardene b Kulasekara 65

Kamran Akmal c Sangakkara b Malinga 24

Younis Khan not out 73

Mohammad Yousuf not out 14

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-4) 7

TOTAL (for two wkts, 43.2 overs) 183

FALL OF WKTS: 1-38, 2-152.

BOWLING: Maharoof 10-0-52-0 (4nb); Kulasekara 12-3-34-1; Malinga 6.2--0-33-1; Muralitharan 13-3-46-0; Bandara 2-0-15-0.

UMPIRES: D.J. Harper and S.J. Davis (both Australia).

TV UMPIRE: E.A.R. de Silva (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: A.G. Hurst (Australia).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mohammad Asif.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Mohammad Asif.

FIRST TEST: Colombo, match drawn.—Reuters