Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in third Test

Sharjah: Pakistan pulled off a thrilling five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third and final Test in Sharjah on Monday, levelling the series at 1-1.

Pakistan were set a daunting target of 302 in 59 overs on the fifth and final day, but they chased it down as if playing Twenty20 cricket, with Azhar Ali (103) and Sarfraz Ahmed (48) sharing a rapid 89-run fourth wicket stand. Ali also shared an unbroken 109-run stand for the fifth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq, who made 68 not out and went on to take the winning single with nine balls to spare. Sri Lanka won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 429-8 dec and 214; Pakistan 341 and 302-5.