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Pak, Lanka Test poised for keen finish

The third and final cricket Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was evenly poised after the second day's play at Karachi's National Stadium on Monday.

With the series already out of reach, Pakistan were 88-3 at stumps, derailed after they looked set to build a winning lead.

Pakistan are ahead by 117 runs with seven wickets intact.

Inzamam-ul-Haq was on 12 and nightwatchman Shoaib Akhtar was yet to score on a day when Pakistan's bowlers produced their best performance of the series by dismissing Sri Lanka for 227 in their first innings.

Pakistan had a brisk and confident start to their second innings with Shahid Afridi and Naveed who put on a stand of 70, Pakistan's best in the series. But then the home team lost three quick wickets and with it the initiative.

The openers reached 50 in just 8.2 overs with Afridi in his typical attacking mood. He was caught off a no-ball from Pramodya Wickremansinghe when on 21 but that did not curb his instincts.

At 70, Afridi missed the line of a Pushpakumara delivery and was bowled for a 34 which included six fours.

Naveed became off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's 250th Test scalp when he fell leg before wicket for 27. Muralitharan, who is playing his 51st Test, then won a bat pad decision against Ejaz Ahmed for 3 when the ball looked to have beat the whole face of the bat.

Earlier resuming at 10-0, Sri Lanka lost four wickets in the first session adding 90 runs. Paceman Waqar Younis struck twice by sending Marvan Atapattu (3) and Mahela Jayawardene (1) in his first spell of the day. In between expressman Shoaib Akhtar removed skipper Sanath Jayasuriya when the batsman failed to keep a cut shot down and was caught at point by Ejaz Ahmed for 24. Jayasuriya hit three fours and a six during his 27-ball innings lasting 49 minutes.

Russel Arnold, who made 99 in the second Test, added 54 runs with Tillekeratne Dilshan for the fourth wicket to repair the early damage. Arnold fell in the last over before lunch when debutant pacer Irfan Fazil forced him to edge an outgoing ball to first slip where Younis Khan took a low catch. Arnold's 48 was spiced with eight boundaries and lasted 109 minutes.

The 19-year-old Fazil was hit out of the attack by Romesh Kaluwitharana who hit him for five boundaries after lunch. Pocket-sized dynamo Kaluwitharana then hit three fours off Waqar Younis to post Sri Lanka's 150 in the 31st over. He added a quickfire 54 for the fifth wicket with Dilshan. Kaluwitharana hit nine boundaries in his 29-ball 42 and was unluckily run out, failing to beat Mohammad Naveed's throw from deep square leg in his attempts for a second run.

Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi then chipped in with the wickets of Indika de Saram (5) and Dilshan (31) to reduce the Sri Lankans to 188-7. Dilshan held one end with some defensive batting taking 102 balls and hit three boundaries. Akhtar removed Ravindra Pushpakumara (1) and Wickremasinghe (0) in his 16th over to take the tourists to 206-9. However, Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan added 21 invaluable runs for the last wicket to bring Sri Lanka to within 29 runs of Pakistan's first innings total of 256.

Mohammad Akram wrapped up the innings dismissing Muralitharan for 14. The Sri Lankan hit three boundaries.

Akhtar returned with figures of 3-52 while Waqar Younis and Afridi took two wickets apiece.

The tourists enjoy an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.