COLOMBO, June 27 (AFP): Pakistan�s batsmen bounced back after the first innings debacle to throw open the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday.
The tourists, who conceded a lead of 177 runs after being dismissed for 138 in the first innings, closed the third day�s play at 171 for two in their second knock.
When bad light halted play an hour early, Pakistan trailed by just six runs with eight wickets in hand, promising a keen tussle between bat and ball over the next two days.
Sri Lanka, looking for a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Galle, removed Mohammad Hafeez cheaply for eight before lunch, caught in the slips by Kumar Sangakkara off Angelo Mathews.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad hit 69 during a second-wicket stand of 120 with Azhar Ali, the pair batting through the post-lunch session to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Shehzad was dismissed off the first ball after tea, top-edging a hook off Dhammika Prasad, but Younis Khan joined Azhar to put on 42 for the unbroken third wicket.
Azhar was unbeaten on 64 and Younis, determined to make his 100th match special after falling for six in the first innings, closed the day on a watchful 23.
Sri Lanka, who began at their overnight score of 304-9 after a delayed start due to bad weather, were dismissed for 315 in their first innings in reply to Pakistan�s 138.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah finished with figures of six for 96 after last man Dushmantha Chameera was caught superbly by Younis running back from the slips, leaving Rangana Herath unbeaten on 18.
Yasir had claimed seven wickets in Sri Lanka�s second innings in Galle to fashion Pakistan�s 10-wicket victory.
Sri Lanka were dealt a scare in the field when Chameera, the debutant seamer, went off the field in the morning session after sending down just nine deliveries.
SCORECARD
Pakistan 1st innings: 138
Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight (304-9): D Karunaratne c Sarfraz b Junaid 28, K Silva run out 80, K Sangakkara c Shafiq b Babar 34, L Thirimanne c Azhar b Yasir 7, A Mathews lbw b Yasir 77, D Chandimal b Yasir 1, K Vithanage b Yasir 3, D Prasad lbw b Hafeez 35, R Herath not out 18, T Kaushal c Misbah b Yasir 18, D Chameera c Younis b Yasir 2. Extras: (b6, lb4, nb1, w1) 12. Total: (all out, 121.3 overs) 315. Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-98, 3-119, 4-191, 5-194, 6-202, 7-275, 8-275, 9-303. Bowling: Wahab 9-2-19-0, Junaid 29-5-89-1, Babar 32-8-82-1, Yasir 41.3-5-96-6, Hafeez 10-2-19-1.
Pakistan 2nd innings: Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkara b Mathews 8, Ahmed Shehzad c Chandimal b Prasad 69, Azhar Ali not out 64, Younis Khan not out 23. Extras: (b2, lb1, w2, nb2) 7. Total: (for two wickets, 59 overs) 171. Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-129. Bowling: Prasad 13.3-0-46-1, Mathews 5-3-5-1, Herath 14-3-33-0, Chameera 8.3-1-28-0, Kaushal 18-2-56-0.