Shafiq, Sarfraz Put Pakistan on Top

Galle: Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed exposed Sri Lanka's bowling frailties on Saturday as Pakistan took a 117-run lead and then removed two wickets at stumps on fourth day to put the hosts in a critical situation at Galle.

Resuming at an overnight score of 118-5, Asad and Sarfraz produced a spirited fightback as they rescued their team from a precarious position by putting together a 139-run stand for the sixth wicket.

While Asad displayed a flawless defence tactics by scoring his seventh Test century (131), Sarfraz smacked a quick-fire 96 to accelerate their innings.

Subsequently, tail-ender Zulfiqar Babar frustrated unimaginative Sri Lankan bowling by adding 56. Yasir Shah and Wahab Riaz contributed 23 and 14 runs respectively to put their team in a respectable position.

Off-spinner Dilruwan Perara remained the only silver lining for Sri Lanka as he scalped four wickets.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost first-innings centurion Kaushal Silva cheaply for five runs as he edged to third slip off Riaz's express delivery.

Yasir then dismissed veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara for 18 before the end of day's play at 63-2, while still trailing 54 runs.

Dimuth Karunaratne (36 not out) and Perara (0) were on the crease and would be faced with an uphill task to get through the final day safely.

Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 300 and 63 for 2 (Karunaratne 36*)
Pakistan - 417 (Shafiq 131, Sarfraz 96, Zulfiqar 56, Dilruwan 4-122)
Status - Sri Lanka trial by 54 runs

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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