Sri Lanka started the day with Mahela Jayawardene and Kumara Sangakkara on the crease. The pair completed the 100 runs partnership, it 19th time the two had added more than 100 in Tests, making them the second-most prolific pair behind Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
Saeed Ajmal, who bowled unchanged through the day, dismissed Sangakkara in his second over of the day. He followed it up with Mahela Jayawardene’s wicket – the 10th time he dismissed the batsman in Tests – in his next over before beating Lahiru Thirimanne with a doosra to collect three wickets in a 46-over slog.
Later, Wahab Riaz destroyed the lower order of Sri Lanka picking up three wickets with the old ball.
Sri Lankan Skipper Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten at 43. He got good support from wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella (21) and Dhammika Prasad (19) to drag Sri Lanka out of critical situation after they lost last eight wickets for 96 runs to post 282.
Chasing the target of 271, the openers of Pakistan, Ahmed Shehzad (8) and Khurram Manzoor (10) were dismissed by Dhammika Prasad before Rangana Herath came in to bowl leaving Pakistan 21-2.
Herath, who had run through Pakistan’s batting order to pick up nine wickets in the first innings on a flat pitch, drove away any thoughts of a Sharjah-like chase by breaking the back of Pakistan batting – Azhar Ali (10), Misbah-ul-Haq (3) and Younis Khan (8) – within his first six overs.
Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed have had success against spin during this tour and were nimble-footed during a 55-run sixth-wicket stand that prevented total capitulation. But Shafiq missed one as he stepped out to give Herath his 22nd wicket in the series. With effectively two wickets remaining – Junaid Khan was ruled out – Pakistan were left facing a big defeat.
