Pakistan clinch innings lead

The slide was checked by a 54-run fourth wicket stand between Russel Arnold and Tillekeratne Dilshan which ended when Arnold became Fazil’s first Test victim after hitting 48, with eight fours.

Afridi kept Pakistan in control after lunch, taken at 100 for four, by snapping up Indika de Saram (5) and Dilshan (31).

Sri Lanka’s problems were compounded by the suicidal run-out of wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, who had stroked 42 off 29 balls, including nine fours.

The batsman attempted an impossible second run and failed to beat Mohammad Naveed’s throw from square leg by nearly four yards.

Chaminda Vaas remained unbeaten on a well made 25.

Sri Lanka already have a 2-0 winning series lead.

Earlier Sri Lanka recovered from a poor start to make 100 for four wickets by lunch. The repair work was done by left-hander Russel Arnold and Tillekeratne Dilshan who put on 54 runs for the fourth wicket stand at after the visitors lost three wickets for just 46.

Arnold, who scored 99 in the second Test, hit eight boundaries in his 48 before becoming the first victim of debutant paceman Irfan Fazil. Resuming at 10-0, the visitors lost their first wicket in the second over of the day when Marvan Atapattu was trapped in front of the wicket by Waqar Younis for three.

Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was in attacking mood, hitting three fours and a six off Younis at point before cutting Shoaib Akhtar down Ijaz Ahmed’s throat at point after making 24.

Younis picked up Mahela Jayawardene with the visitors on 46 when the batsman chased a wide ball and snicked it to wicketkeeper Moin Khan. Jayawardene made 1.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings): 256
Sri Lanka (1st innings; overnight 2-0): M Atapattu lbw b W Younis 3, S Jayasuriya c Ijaz b S Akhtar 24, R Arnold c Y Khan b I Fazil 48, M Jayawardena c Moin b W Younis 1, T Dilshan c Moin b S Afridi 31, R Kaluwitharana run out 42, I Saram c W Younis b S Afridi 5, C Vaas not out 25, R Pushpakumara c Moin b S Akhtar 1, P Wickremasinghe b S Akhtar 0, M Muralitharan c Fazil b M Akram 14. Extras: (b10, lb2, nb21) 33. Total: (all out in 58.1 overs) 227
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-41, 3-46, 4-100, 5-154, 6-164, 7-188, 8-206, 9-206.

Bowling: Waqar Younis 10-2-39-2, Shoaib Akhtar 18-5-52-3(nb4), Mohammad Akram 14.1-2-49-1 (nb9), Irfan Fazil 4-0-35-1 (nb4), Shahid Afridi 12-3-40-2 (nb4).