THE thrilling end to the third Test here which saw Pakistan pulling off an improbable victory was the kind of stuff dreams are made of.

Without any doubt, it was cricket at its best on Monday and a huge publicity for the game, made possible by the fastest run chase in the history of Test cricket and that too by Pakistan who won the third and final Test against Sri Lanka to level the series 1-1.

The asking rate to get to the target of 302 runs — at 5.25 runs an over in 59 overs — and with only two sessions left on the final day gave little chance to Pakistan and a favourable result for them may not have been in any one’s wildest calculations.

But cricket’s charming unpredictability is such that at times even the seemingly impossible becomes possible.

An otherwise dull Test match which moved at snail pace during the first four days and even till the lunch break on the final day, suddenly came alive after it appeared that Pakistan were attempting to go for the well nigh impossible target set for them to chase.

The Sri Lankans’ defensive and negative approach to defend their 1-0 lead in the series also created hurdles for Misbah-ul-Haq’s men. But by the time the reality dawned upon the Lankans in the fading hours of the day, the Pakistan batsmen had well and truly marched on towards their magnificent victory.

I personally wouldn’t have bet my life on Pakistan’s rather miraculous win — and that too with an over and three balls to spare — knowing fully well over the years the frailities and at times heart-breaking batting displays by our batsmen.

I am glad, however, to admit that Misbah and his men rose up to the occasion admirably by accepting the challenge instead of playing out the time.

Their intentions were loud and clear right from the start when they launched their fine effort despite the tough run rate required. In the bid, they also lost the wickets of Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor and Younis Khan before reaching the hundred mark.

But they continued in that belligerent fashion to move on. Sarfraz Ahmed was, in fact, the man who started the onslaught with crispy hits all round for his 46-ball 48 and added a very valuable 89-run stand for the fourth wicket with Azhar Ali who went on to become the match-winner with a remarkable century under pressure.

I think in the circumstances this was one of the best innings played to win a match. Azhar was sensible and well aware of the importance of the situation as he dabbed, drove and cut to first go past his fifty and then a glorious hundred watched by his captain Misbah at the other end who also responded with similar strokes all round.

The most memorable innings in a run chase I remember was in 1984 when West Indies’ Gordon Greenidge set Lord’s on fire with a double century while chasing over 300 runs against England. Full of devastating drives, hooks and pulls to win the match in a flash, it was a magnificent, unforgettable knock.

Azhar may not have that genius in him, but he certainly was the man of the moment to bring Pakistan to their glorious moment before getting out.

Misbah I suppose was as much earnest and focused to get Pakistan to a series levelling win. If only he had relied on men like Mohammad Talha, Abdur Rehman and Azhar Ali right from the start of the series, he may have had the series in his bag.