Seasoned batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq hit resolute half-centuries to take the fight to Sri Lanka in the second Test in Dubai on Friday.
Younis was unbeaten on 62 and Misbah scored 52 not out to help Pakistan reach 2-132 at stumps on the third day at the Dubai stadium where the pitch is likely to help spinners on the last two days.
Pakistan still need another 93 runs to avoid an innings defeat and go 1-0 down in the three-Test series after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Younis and Misbah, who both hit hundreds in Abu Dhabi last week, came together with Pakistan in dire straits at 3-19. They held the batting together during their unfinished 113-run fourth wicket stand.
Sri Lanka earlier gained a 223-run lead by scoring 388 in their first knock. Pakistan had made 165 in their first innings.
It was paceman Nuwan Pradeep (2-28) who gave Pakistan the early trouble.
Pradeep, who took a career best 3-62 in the first innings, had Mohammad Hafeez (one) caught behind in his second over and in his fourth swung one across Manzoor (six) for wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to take his seventh catch of the match.
Pakistan had lost opener Ahmed Shehzad in the last over before lunch, caught behind for nine off spinner Rangana Herath.
Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene hit a fighting 129 and, when on 117, became the eighth highest run-getter in all Test cricket, surpassing Australia’s Steve Waugh’s 10,927 in 140 Tests. Jayawardene now has 10,940 in 140 Tests.
India’s now retired Sachin Tendulkar leads the chart with 15,921 in a remarkable 200 Tests.
Resuming at 4-318, Sri Lanka lost skipper Angelo Mathews, caught behind by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed off paceman Rahat Ali without adding to his overnight score of 42.
Mathews, man of the match in Abu Dhabi for his 91 and 157 not out, hit five boundaries during his 88-ball knock.
Mahela Jayawardene’s brilliant knock ended when he was bowled out while trying to reverse sweep Saeed Ajmal after scoring 129.
Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan finished with the best figures of 3-102 while Ajmal finished with 2-56.
