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Dubai: Sri Lanka closed in on a win in the second Test against Pakistan after left-arm spinner Rangana Herath dismissed Misbah-ul Haq three short of a fighting hundred in Dubai on Saturday.
Herath spun one across Misbah's bat to hit the off stump to leave Pakistan at 330-7 at stump on the fourth day, leading by just 107 runs in the second innings with a day to play.
Misbah's valiant effort of 97 helped Pakistan avoid their first-ever innings defeat against Sri Lanka before his 412-minutes resistance ended just 20 minutes before tea. At the stump, Sarfraz Ahmed (70) and Saeed Ajmal (seven) were at the crease.
Misbah, who took 38 balls to add to his overnight score of 53, hit eight boundaries and a six under difficult circumstances with Dubai stadium lights on due to cloudy weather most of the fourth day.
He added an invaluable 129 for the fourth wicket with Younis Khan (77), 52 for Asad Shafiq (23) for the fifth and 45 for the sixth with Sarfarz to help Pakistan avoid innings defeat but finally succumbed to some persistent effort from Herath who has figures of 2-124.
Pakistan resumed on 132-3 and needed Younis and Misbah to dig deep but Younis tried to drive a slightly wide delivery from Suranga Lakmal, managing only to edge it to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who held his eighth catch of the match.
Younis batted for 235 minutes and hit five boundaries, adding 129 runs for the third wicket with his skipper.
Sri Lanka took the second new ball with the score at 198-4 and were rewarded in the second over when paceman Shaminda Eranga had Shafiq caught in the slip.
Sarfraz has batted aggressively, hitting six boundaries and staying a step ahead of the crease to blunt the seam and spin.
Paceman Nuwan Pradeep has figures of 2-50 while Laklam and Eranga had a wicket each.
Brief scores
Pakistan 165 (Manzoor 73, Pradeep 3-62, Herath 3-26) and 330 for 7 (Misbah 97, Younis 77, Sarfraz Ahmed 70*)
Sri Lanka 388 (Mahela 129, Silva 95, Junaid Khan 3-102)
Status Pakistan lead by 107 runs
