Sri Lanka’s bowlers have put the home side in control of the second and final Test match of the series against Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
At stumps on Day Three, Sri Lankans were on 176/5 with a commanding lead of 323 runs.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne who is struggling with a back injury was unbeaten on 27 while Dhananjaya de Silva was on 30.
The pair put on an unbroken 59-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Angelo Mathews top scored with 35 while other batters despite making starts failed to make a telling contribution.
For Pakistan, Naseem Shah picked up 2/29.
Earlier yesterday, Sri Lankan spinners spearheaded by Ramesh Mendis bundled Pakistan out for 231 in their first innings.
Mendis finished with figures of 5/47 while Prabath Jayasuriya had 3/80. Sri Lanka posted 378 after winning the toss in the must-win encounter.
Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella and Oshadha Fernando made fifties in Sri Lanka’s first innings.
Sri Lanka lost the opening game of the series by 4 wickets and must claim victory to square the series.
The home team batters will first be hoping to extend the lead past 400 which will allow spinners a better chance to be aggressive against the Pakistanis during the final few sessions of the game.
Play will resume at 10am.
