Pallekele (Sri Lanka), Jul 11: Azhar Ali's second century of the series lifted Pakistan to 299-8 but an overall lead of only 188 runs against Sri Lanka after four days of the third cricket test on Wednesday.
Ali, who made a century in the drawn second test, scored 136 off 284 balls and featured in two productive partnerships -- adding 94 with opener Mohammad Hafeez (52) and another 100 with Asad Shafiq (55 not out).
Dilhara Fernando had Ali caught behind with the second new ball and then trapped Mohammad Sami lbw for his 100th wicket in tests.
But the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers was left-arm spinner Rangana Herath with 4-64 that included the key wickets of Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Scoreboard Wednesday at stumps on the fourth day of the third cricket test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium:
Pakistan 1st Innings 226
Sri Lanka 1st Innings 337
Pakistan 2nd Innings
(Overnight 27-1)
Mohammad Hafeez c Paranavitana b Fernando 52
Taufeeq Umar lbw b Kulasekera 4
Azhar Ali c Prasanna Jayawardene b Fernando 136
Younis Khan c Paranavitana b Herath 19
Misbah-ul-Haq c Mahela Jayawardene b Herath 5
Asad Shafiq not out 55
Mohammad Sami lbw b Fernando 3
Umar Gul lbw b Herath 0
Saeed Ajmal lbw b Herath 5
Adnan Akmal not out 0
Extras (6b, 8lb, 6w) 20
TOTAL: (for 8 wickets) 299
Overs: 104.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-110, 3-158, 4-176, 5-276, 6-280, 7-281, 8-299
Still to bat: Junaid Khan.
Bowling: Nuwan Kulasekera 22-8-50-1, Thisara Perera 17-1-66-0 (5w), Rangana Herath 32-4-64-4, Dilhara Fernando 20-1-65-3 (1w), Angelo Mathews 12-0-38-0, Thilan Samaraweera 1-0-2-0.
Toss: Sri Lanka.
Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia, Simon Taufel, Australia.
TV umpire: Ranmore Martinesz, Sri Lanka. Match referee: David Boon, Australia.
