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Colombo: Shoaib Malik and Kamran Khan and put on an unbroken 114-run partnership as Pakistan built a lead of 366 runs over Sri Lanka in the third cricket Test on Wednesday.
An excellent stand between Malik and Akmal, and even though they had moments of fortune - Malik survived a missed stumping and Akmal was dropped in the deep - the damage, more or less, had already been done. The manner in which the two batted in the last session marked a contrast to the grind towards the latter half of the first session and the early part of the second.
It started with Misbah and Malik, who rescued Pakistan from 67 for 4 to take the lead past 250. Both Malik and Akmal, thanks to their aggressive approach, made a meal of the new ball - previously a nemesis for the batting team - to cart the Sri Lankan bowlers around the ground and take the game away from them.
The pitch is still taking turn and the ball is still seaming around, but the performance of Malik and Misbah has shown that if the batsman are willing to wait it out in the middle, getting the runs is not all too difficult. With five more wickets in hand, and the cushion of an already imposing lead, Pakistan are firmly on top.
Misbah-ul Haq and Shoaib Malik put on 119-run partnership for fifth wicket after the tourists appeared to have thrown away the advantage of a 66-run first innings lead when, starting the third day at 16-1 in their second knock, they lost three quick wickets to slip to 67-4 before lunch.
Misbah and Malik, however, defied the Sri Lankan bowlers for the entire post-lunch session to lift Pakistan to 168-4 by tea at the Sinhalese sports club here.
Misbah caught by skipper on Mathew on 62 just after tea, his third half-century in 15 Tests, including five fours and a six.
Former captain Malik was batting on 106.
The hosts, aiming for a 3-0 sweep of the series after winning the first two Tests, missed a second spinner alongside Rangana Herath on a wicket still good for batting despite affording turn and bounce.
Sri Lanka had dropped spinner Ajantha Mendis to accommodate veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas for his final Test in a four-man pace attack.
Pakistan scored 132 runs came in the final session off 31 overs on lost Misbah-ul-Haq.
Brief Score: Pakistan 299 and 300 for 5 (Shoaib 106*, Misbah 65, Akmal 60*) lead Sri Lanka 233 by 366 runs
