Azhar Ali struck his maiden Test century to ensure Pakistan remained in control of the second Test on day two against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka playing catch-up in Dubai
Azhar Ali struck his maiden Test century to ensure Pakistan remained in control of the second Test at stumps on day two against Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan number three made exactly 100 - only to be dismissed in the penultimate over of the day - as the adopted hosts closed on 281-4 - 42 runs ahead of Sri Lanka's meagre first-innings total.
Azhar shared partnerships of 117 and 94 respectively with Younis Khan and captain Misbah-Ul-Haq after seamer Dhammika Prasad (2-73) had claimed two early strikes on the second morning.
However, with Misbah well set on 40 not out, Pakistan will be confident of building a sizable lead on day three.
Unfortunate
Resuming in Dubai on 42-0 in reply to Sri Lanka's 239, Pakistan suffered two setbacks on the second morning when both openers fell to Prasad before drinks.
In-form Taufeeq Umar (27) was the first to depart, the left-hander guilty of a loose drive outside off stump, which he could only edge through to debutant wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva.
Mohammad Hafeez (33) swiftly followed his partner back to the pavilion two overs later, the right-hander perhaps a touch unfortunate to be adjudged lbw with replays suggesting the ball was sliding past leg-stump.
That wicket brought the experienced Younis and Azhar together and the former, in adding his 17th run, became Pakistan's fourth highest Test run-scorer of all-time behind Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul Haq and Mohammad Yousuf.
Younis (55) hit Dilshan over midwicket boundary for a six to complete his 26th Test fifty, but in the Sri Lanka captain's next over he played onto his stumps.
Azhar carried on undeterred, however, finding the rope on nine occasions and surviving a couple of nervy moments in the 90s to register an emotional first century for his country.
He did not manage to build on his total, though, and fell eight deliveries before stumps, lbw to Dilshan (2-48).
