SRI LANKA edged closer towards wiping out their first-innings deficit in the second Test against Pakistan with Kumar Sangakkara again looking in good touch. The tourists started their second knock 164 runs in arrears after dismissing Pakistan for 403 and survived a tricky 45-over spell for the loss of Lahiru Thirimanne to reach the close on 88 for one, trailing by 76 at stumps. But with Sangakkara at the crease they had reason for optimism. It was the former skipper who guided them to safety in the first Test in Abu Dhabi with a wonderful 211 while Prasanna Jayawardene chipped in with 120.
Pakistan, therefore, will have been targeting early breakthroughs in the final session on day three on a track which offered plenty of assistance, but Sangakkara and opener Tharanga Paranavitana stood firm with the former reaching 29 not out by the close and the latter unbeaten on 42.
Mohammad Hafeez took the only wicket to fall by getting one to beat the bat and clip the off-stump with Thirimanne departing for eight.
Earlier, Pakistan were bundled out shortly after moving past 400 with Asad Shafiq claiming his third Test half-century. Although Sri Lanka struck early to remove overnight batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan received valuable contributions from Saeed Ajmal, Shafiq and Adnan Akmal to consolidate their position of strength.
Pakistan captain Misbah, who started the day unbeaten on 40, added just one before departing in Chanaka Welegedara’s first over of the morning, the left-armer getting one to nip away and take the outside edge with Mahela Jayawardene taking a fine catch at second slip.
Welegedara then came close to getting Ajmal only to see Angelo Mathews spill a chest-high chance in the gully, but there was to be no reprieve for the batsman when he flashed at another out-swinger four overs later, Mathews this time clinging on.
Ajmal (20) had put on a useful 41 for the sixth wicket with Shafiq, who made a brisk 59 before departing shortly after lunch, sparking a lower-order collapse which saw Pakistan lose their last four wickets for nine runs.
The 25-year-old steered a wide ball from Dhammika Prasad straight to Mahela Jayawardene in the gully to depart for 59.
Abdur Rehman who failed to score and Umar Gul (2) were both snared by Rangana Herath before Akmal was the last man out, edging a drifted Tillakaratne Dilshan delivery behind for 41.