Defiant Yousuf lifts Pakistan against Sri Lanka

GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf scored a defiant unbeaten half-century to guide Pakistan to 225 for five at tea on the second day of a delicately balanced first test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Yousuf celebrated his return to international cricket after the lifting of a ban imposed for playing in the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League with 82 from 119 balls, an innings that included seven boundaries.

The 34-year-old right-hander was supported by Misbah ul-Haq, who scored 56 and helped add 139 runs for the fifth wicket, the most productive partnership of the test match to date.

Pakistan resumed on 15-2, added 105 runs in the morning session and an identical amount in a rain-interrupted afternoon to leave them trailing Sri Lanka by only 67 runs.

Younus Khan (25) and Abdur Rauf (31) started Pakistan's recovery after the loss of their openers on Saturday evening with a 50-run stand for the third wicket.

However, paceman Nuwan Kulasekara (2-44), the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers, claimed the first victim of the day with the dismissal of nightwatchman Rauf, who edged to wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

All rounder Angelo Mathews then snared a wicket in his first over in test cricket, finding the outside edge of Younus's bat with an outswinger to dismiss the Pakistan skipper for 25.

Yousuf then steadied the innings in partnership with Misbah either side of the lunch interval.

The tourists had some good fortune when Yousuf was given a let-off by umpire Darryl Harper, who missed an inside edge from a confident bat-pad appeal off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath on 57.