Pakistan were 4-210 in their second innings at tea on day four of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Wednesday.

Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 97 and Asad Shafiq was not out 16, putting Pakistan 99 runs ahead with six wickets in hand.

Mohammad Hafeez had earlier scored 52, but Pakistan lost the key wickets of Younis Khan for 19 and captain Misbah-ul Haq who was dismissed for 5.

Azhar closed in on a second century in successive matches even as Sri Lanka eyed victory on the fourth day.

Pakistan’s last recognised batting pair of Azhar and Shafiq (16 not out) were at the crease, with prospects of a series-levelling win dimming for the tourists.

Azhar, who made 157 in the Colombo Test, held the innings together for close to five hours, hitting nine boundaries as he approached his fourth Test century.

Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0, having won the first Test in Galle by 209 runs. The rain-hit second Test in Colombo was drawn.

The hosts need only a draw to secure their first Test series victory in three years since beating New Zealand 2-0 at home in 2009.