Sri Lanka 204 and 4-186 (Kaushal Silva 81, Kumar Sangakkara 55, Junaid Khan 2-46, Bilawal Bhatti 2-65) trails Pakistan 383 (Younis Khan 136, Misbah-ul-Haq 135, Shaminda Eranga 3-80) by seven runs with six wickets in hand.
Pakistan secured a 1st innings lead of 179 runs and clinched four important wickets in the 2nd innings of Sri Lanka who is facing a defeat in the first Test.
The Islanders were bowled out for 204 runs in their first innings and scored 186 runs for the loss of four wickets in the second whereas the hosts amassed 383 in the first one.
The third day of the first Test concluded on Thursday, January 2, 2014, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, the home side started the day at 4-327 after 109 overs whereas their skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq were batting at 105 and 12 runs. The latter lost his wicket two runs later for 13 and the Lankan Lions bowlers took charge of the situation. Misbah-ul-Haq was the only batsman who gave some fight while the wickets kept on crumbling regularly at the other end. He was the final one to be dismissed after contributing 135 as Pakistan hammered 383 after 129.1 overs and got a vital lead of 179 runs.
Shaminda Eranga and Rangana Herath were the most successful bowlers with three wickets each, Suranga Lakmal held two and Angelo Mathews got one wicket.
Dimuth Karunaratne along with Kaushal Silva started off their second innings reasonably well by scoring 47 runs in 15 overs. The first was clean bowled by Junaid Khan for 24 and was replaced by Kumar Sangakkara. The duo found it difficult to score the runs freely and managed 75 runs in 32 overs while few boundaries were witnessed after that. Silva achieved his maiden Test fifty on the 113th ball and his partner kept on consolidating at the other end.
Sangakkara attained his 43rd Test half century with a four and became the next victim at 146 for 55. Mahela Jayawardene was dismissed for a duck after the addition of four runs to the total as Dinesh Chandimal joined in with Silva next. The batsmen were going along well with the assistance of boundaries available and shared an association of 36 runs. Kaushal Silva was dismissed at 186 for 81 after 61.3 overs, Dinesh Chandimal was unbeaten for 24 when play was called off for the day.
Junaid Khan and Bilawal Bhatti were the only wicket takers with two wickets each.
The remaining six batsmen of Sri Lanka will have to bat extremely well to save the Test which is slipping away from them.
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