COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Pakistan seam bowlers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz shared seven wickets as Pakistan came back strong on the opening day of the second test Thursday, holding Sri Lanka to 261-8 at stumps.
Khan returned best figures 4-69 and Riaz supported him well with 3-66.
Riaz dismissed opener Upul Tharanga eight runs short of his second test century after adding the price wicket of in-form Kumar Sangakkara (22), who had made a double century in the first innings of the first test. He dismissed captain Angelo Mathews (39) caught behind in what became the last ball of the day.
After Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews chose to bat first Tharanga added 79 for the opening wicket with Kaushal Silva and 65 with Sangakkara to reach 162-2 at tea. In the final session they lost seven more wickets for 99 runs.
Tharanga faced 179 deliveries and hit 12 boundaries for his fifth half century in tests.
Sri Lanka's solid start included 69 runs in the first session without losing a wicket and in the second they lost two wickets for 93 runs.
After lunch, opener Kaushal Silva prodded at a delivery but was caught behind for 41 off Khan. Sangakkara made 22 before being bowled by Riaz off the inside edge.
Sangakkara's dismissal saw Mahela Jayawardene, who plays his final test, walk in to a guard of honor by the Pakistani fielders and sounds of fireworks.
But he could make just four to the disappointment for a modest crowd most of whom were past and present students from his school. Jayawardene was trapped lbw by offspinner Saeed Ajmal soon after tea break.
Tharanga flicked a ball from Riaz and Azhar Ali took a sharp catch at forward-short-leg.
Pakistan took the second new ball at the end of 82 overs and Khan delivered two wickets in the first over dismissing Niroshan Dickwella (24) and Dilruwan Perera both trapped lbw.
After a dramatic seven-wicket win in the first test, Sri Lanka is aiming to sweep the two-test series and send the retiring Jayawardene out on a winning note.
Pakistan on the other hand is desperate to win and level the series.
Placards and cut-outs had been erected around the ground with students and past students of his old school Nalanda College coming together to pay tribute to Jayawardene.
The hosts were forced to replace fast bowler Shaminda Eranga and middle-order batsman Kithruwan Vithanage due to injuries, bringing in Lahiru Thirimanne and Chanaka Welegedara.
Pakistan replaced fast bowler Mohammad Talha with Riaz.
Pakistan stuck with ace offspinner Ajmal, who is under International Cricket Council scrutiny for a suspect bowling action.
