Sri Lanka, replying to Pakistan’s first innings score of 226, were 6-220 at tea on day three of the third and final Test in Pallekele on Tuesday.

Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on 11 and Thisara Perera was on four, with Sri Lanka needing seven more runs for a first-innings lead with four wickets in hand.

Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera hit half centuries to steer Sri Lanka into a strong position.

Paranavitana scored 75 and Samaraweera made 73 as they shared a 143-run partnership for the fifth wicket before offspinner Saeed Ajmal dismissed both of them.

The entire second day’s play had been washed out on Monday.

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.