Sri lanka recovered from 80-4 to reach 228-5 in its second innings at stumps on day three of the third test against Pakistan on Sunday. With the three-match series tied at 1-1, Sri lanka took control to lead by 291 runs with five wickets left when play ended early due to bad light.
Pakistan’s seamers had reduced Sri lanka to 35-3 before lunch and legspinner Yasir Shah dismissed Upul Tharanga for 48 to make it 80-4 in the afternoon session when Sri lanka’s lead was only 143.
However, Jehan Mubarak and Angelo Mathews added 81 runs for the fifth wicket. Dinesh Chandimal then joined Mathews for 67-run sixth-wicket partnership to give the home team the advantage.
Earlier, Sri lanka restricted Pakistan to 215 after resuming on 209-9 in reply to Sri lanka’s 278, conceding a first-innings lead of 63 runs.
Unbeaten on 77 at stumps, Mathews was outstanding despite some nervous moments against fast bowlers. Pakistan unsuccessfully reviewed a leg before wicket appeal in the last ball before lunch.
As the day progressed, the wicket eased and Mathews reached his 22nd half-century by charging down the track to Yasir Shah for straight boundary.
Sri lanka’s top order had struggled as Rahat Ali bowled exceptionally well against the left-handers and dismissed first-innings centurion Dimuth Karunaratne for 10.
Brief Scores Sri lanka: 278 & 228/5 (Mathews 77*, Tharanga 48; Rahat 2/58) lead Pakistan: 215 (Sarfraz 78, Azhar 52; Kaushal 3/37) by 291 runs.