Third Test: Sri Lanka lead with 220 runs with five wickets in hand

Mohammad Talha and Abdur Rehman grab two wickets each as Lankans end fourth day at 133 for 5.

SHARJAH: The third and final Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka seemed headed for a juicy finish as the latter ended the day at 133 with five wickets in hand at stumps on the fourth day.

Pakistan need to win the Test in order to level the three-match series.

Skipper Angelo Mathews and wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene will resume batting tomorrow as the Lankans will try and quickly extend their 220-run lead before having a go at the Pakistani batters on the fifth day of the Test on Monday.

Sri Lanka rode on Mahela Jayawardene's 46, but Pakistani bowlers largely restricted their opponents from brisk scoring.

Paceman Mohammad Talha bowled off Karunaratne and Chandimal for scores of eight and 13 respectively. Abdur Rehman sent Kaushal Silva and Sangakkara back to the pavilion while Saeed Ajmal dismissed Mahela Jayawardene off a brilliant catch by Azhar Ali at short leg.

At the end of the first innings, Pakistan were all out with a score of 341 runs.

Sri Lanka currently has a 1-0 lead in the series.

Teams

Sri Lanka: FDM Karunaratne, JK Silva, KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene, LD Chandimal, AD Mathews, HAPW Jayawardene, MDK, Perera, HMRKB Herath, RMS Eranga, RAS Lakma

Pakistan: Khurram Manzoor, Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbahul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rahman