Asad Shafiq leads Pakistan fightback against Sri Lanka

Asad Shafiq and the lower order led a Pakistan fightback on day four of the first Test in Sri Lanka .

Shafiq's seventh Test century helped the tourists take their overnight 118-5 to 417 before Sri Lanka closed the day on 63-2 in their second innings - still 54 runs behind.

Kumar Sangakkara and first-innings centurion Kaushal Silva were the men to go, raising the prospect of a Pakistan win which looked a remote possibility at the start of day four.

They resumed still 33 runs short of a revised follow-on target after  three rain-hit days, but that was safely passed as Shafiq and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed shared 139 for the sixth wicket.

Ahmed was the aggressor, scoring 96 of those in just 86 balls before he became Dhammika Prasad's third victim of the innings.

Shafiq was happy to drop anchor until Ahmed's departure, picking up the pace after lunch to reach three figures off 207 balls - his first 50 alone had taken him 139.

Wahab Riaz (14) and Yasir Shah (23) chipped in with useful contributions, but when the latter departed Pakistan were just two runs ahead on 302-8.

Cue an entertaining innings from Zulfiqur Babar, who twice cleared the ropes in a 60-ball 56 that accounted for more than half a 101-run ninth-wicket partnership with Shafiq.

Babar's score was not just his Test best, but represented six more runs than he had managed in his previous seven innings combined.

Shafiq was eventually out for 131 - stumped off Dilwuran Perera, who finished with 4-122.