Junaid Khan struck twice late on the opening day of the third Test to boost Pakistan's hopes against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Junaid helps peg Sri Lanka back late on after tourists hit 226
Junaid Khan struck twice late on the opening day of the third Test to boost Pakistan's hopes of a series-levelling win against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
The tourists' bid to square the three-Test series looked in trouble when Thisara Perera's career-best 4-63 helped bundle them out for 226, with Asad Shafiq top-scoring on 75.
But Pakistan hit back as left-armer Junaid trapped Dinesh Chandimal (eight) before grabbing the key scalp of Kumar Sangakkara without scoring with another inswinger.
Opener Tharanga Paranavitana (13 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (12) looked like they would prevent any further damage until veteran quick Mohammad Sami struck with the final ball of the day, arrowing a yorker into Jayawardene's toes to trap him lbw and leave Sri Lanka 44-3.
Earlier Perera, playing in just his sixth Test, had made the most of a lively pitch after Pakistan were sent in.
The 23-year-old removed Taufeeq Umar (29), Mohammad Hafeez (22) and Azhar Ali (0) before lunch, leaving Pakistan 56-4. Younus Khan (0) was the other Pakistan wicket to fall at the hands of Nuwan Kulasekara.
Regrouped
The tourists regrouped, however, with Shafiq and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (40) adding 85 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter became Perera's fourth victim when he edged to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Pakistan suffered another setback when Adnan Akmal was forced to retire hurt on 10 after being struck on the glove by a Dilhara Fernando bouncer.
Shafiq brought up his half-century from 122 balls but at the other end Rangana Herath (3-40) started to spin out the tourists' tail.
Herath bowled Akmal (24) when he returned to the crease, although the wicketkeeper was unable to return when Pakistan took the field after requiring an X-ray on a finger.
Shafiq then himself fell to Herath when he gloved a ball that turned sharply to Prasanna Jayawardene, while the same bowler ended the innings midway through the final session when he trapped Saeed Ajmal (six) lbw.
