The pendulum kept swinging both ways throughout day four before an inspiring partnership between Asad Shafiq and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed kept Pakistan’s hopes alive come day five.
The hosts Pakistan needed less than 13 overs to take the final five Sri Lankan wickets, after they resumed their 2nd innings on 34/5 on day four.
Part-time left-arm spinner Harris Sohail picked up 3 wickets in a single over to clean up the tail to bowl out Sri Lanka for 96, while Wahab Riaz ended with stunning figures of 4 for 41 after a hostile spell late on day 3.
This was incidentally the 11th instance where Sri Lanka has been bowled out for less than 100 runs in test cricket. Sri Lanka’s innings difference of 386 runs (482 & 96) is also the largest in their Test history, with the previous best being 383 versus Australia back in 1992 (547 & 164).
Pakistan lost a wicket early in their run chase of 317, when Sami Aslam was well caught by Kusal Mendis in the slips off the bowling of debutant Lahiru Gamage as Pakistan reached the tea break at 15/1.
Shan Masood and Azhar Ali were intent on not throwing their wickets away after the break, but the Sri Lankans were disciplined and made sure the runs dried up. Eventually the Sri Lankans were rewarded for their patience when Ali inside edged one off his pad to a well placed fielder(Kaushal Silva) at forward shot leg off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep.
Dilruwan Perera got into the act from there on as he captured three scalps in quick succession to leave Pakistan in tatters going into the dinner break at 62/5.
Pakistan refused to succumb in the post-dinner session as skipper Sarfraz Ahmed along with Asad Shafiq counter punched the Sri Lankan bowlers with the duo producing a century stand in just 150 balls.
Shafiq made his highest score in his last 12 innings as he reached his half century off 81 balls,while Sarfraz got to his half century in 84 balls.
The duo helped Pakistan reach 198 for 5 at stumps on day four putting on an unbroken stand of 146* for the sixth wicket.
