Third Test: Sri Lanka steady at 220-5 at close of first day's play
Pakistan removes opener Kaushal Silva, caught behind off paceman Mohammad Talha for 17.
Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne. PHOTO: AFP
SHARJAH:
Sri Lanka, who won the toss and batted, closed the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan at 220-5 in Sharjah on Thursday.
Skipper Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 24 and with him was Prasanna Jayawardene who was 28 not out.
Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0 after their nine-wicket win in the second Test in Dubai. The first Test had ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Kumar Sangakkara made 52 and Mahela Jayawardene scored 47.
For Pakistan Saeed Ajmal was the pick of the bolwers with 2-62.
Earlier, Pakistan had removed stubborn opener Kaushal Silva before Sri Lanka reached 64-1 at lunch.
Paceman Mohammad Talha had Silva caught behind off a sharp outgoing delivery before Dimuth Karunaratne (34) and Kumar Sangakkara (12) batted comfortably on a flat pitch.
Talha, one of three changes in Pakistan's line-up, forced an edge off Silva in his second spell to leave Sri Lanka 31-1.
Silva - who made 81, 95 and 58 in the series - hit one boundary.
Left-hander Karunaratne has so far hit two boundaries and a six off 91 balls.
Pakistan had brought in Rehman, Talha and Azhar Ali in place of Rahat Ali, Bilawal Bhatti - who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury - and Mohammad Hafeez.
Sri Lanka, anticipating the pitch to turn on the last two days, handed a Test cap to 31-year-old spinner Dilruwan Perera, leaving out paceman Nuwan Pradeep.
Sri Lanka, who won the toss and batted, closed the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan at 220-5 in Sharjah on Thursday.
Skipper Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 24 and with him was Prasanna Jayawardene who was 28 not out.
Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0 after their nine-wicket win in the second Test in Dubai. The first Test had ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Kumar Sangakkara made 52 and Mahela Jayawardene scored 47.
For Pakistan Saeed Ajmal was the pick of the bolwers with 2-62.
Earlier, Pakistan had removed stubborn opener Kaushal Silva before Sri Lanka reached 64-1 at lunch.
Paceman Mohammad Talha had Silva caught behind off a sharp outgoing delivery before Dimuth Karunaratne (34) and Kumar Sangakkara (12) batted comfortably on a flat pitch.
Talha, one of three changes in Pakistan's line-up, forced an edge off Silva in his second spell to leave Sri Lanka 31-1.
Silva - who made 81, 95 and 58 in the series - hit one boundary.
Left-hander Karunaratne has so far hit two boundaries and a six off 91 balls.
Pakistan had brought in Rehman, Talha and Azhar Ali in place of Rahat Ali, Bilawal Bhatti - who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury - and Mohammad Hafeez.
Sri Lanka, anticipating the pitch to turn on the last two days, handed a Test cap to 31-year-old spinner Dilruwan Perera, leaving out paceman Nuwan Pradeep.