Sri Lanka face an uphill battle to save the third Test against Pakistan after closing on 183 for three chasing a huge 492-run victory target on Thursday. The hosts started their chase positively with an opening stand of 83 either side of tea, but lost the wickets of Malinda Warnapura (31), Tharanga Paranavitana (73) and Mahela Jayawardene (two) in the final session.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara, dropped on 40 by Younis Khan, was unbeaten on 50 at the close with Thilan Samaraweera on 20. The biggest challenge for the hosts will be the leg spin of Danish Kaneria, who followed his first innings five-wicket haul with two for 56 from 16 overs.

Kaneria found sharp turn and bounce on the dusty-dry pitch, snaring the left-handed Warnapura at leg slip and finding the outside edge of Jayawardene’s bat with a big leg break. Off spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik also applied pressure, the latter claiming the wicket of Paranavitana caught at short leg.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan (1st Innings): 299

Sri Lanka (1st Innings): 233

Pakistan (2nd Innings): K Manzoor b Herath 2, F Alam c&b Thushara 16, Y Khan lbw Kulasekera 19, M Yousuf c Sangakkara b Herath 23, Misbah c Sangakkara b Mathews 65, Shoaib Malik c sub b Herath 134, K Akmal c Jayawardene b Kulasekera 74, U Gul c Vaas b Herath 46, D Kaneria c Thushara b Herath 5, M Aamer not out 22, Saeed Ajmal not out 3, Extras: (10b, 2lb, 2nb, 2w) 16; Total: (for 9 wkts decl., 123 overs) 425

... contd.