Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah grabbed the important thing wicket of Dinesh Chandimal to depart Sri Lanka combating to keep away from defeat after the fourth day of the primary Check in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The prolific wicket-taker took 2-25 as Sri Lanka struggled to 69-Four, needing a rearguard motion to save lots of the Check.
Pakistan will probably be anticipating to push for victory within the opening match of a two-Check sequence on the fifth and last day.
It was powerful to barter spin on a fourth-day Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch, however regardless of a 32nd Check five-wicket haul for veteran Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath, Pakistan posted 422 to take a slender three-run lead.
Sri Lanka had made 419 of their first innings.
On the shut, Kusal Mendis was batting on 16, with nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal on two, after a day of fluctuating fortunes.
Herath’s 5-93 in 40 overs have been properly foiled by an excellent 76 by Check debutant Haris Sohail, as initially it appeared as if Sri Lanka would take a first-innings lead.
Pakistan then hit again within the second innings by way of Shah, who first had opener Dimuth Karunaratne caught for 10 after which dismissed first-innings centurion Chandimal, caught at slip, for seven.
Sohail adopted his accountable knock by claiming Kaushal Silva’s wicket, whom he trapped leg earlier than for 25, whereas part-timer Asad Shafiq had Lahiru Thirimanne for seven.
Earlier within the day, Pakistan too have been struggling at 316-6 and have been at risk of conceding a wholesome lead with Herath utilizing all his expertise and guile.
The 39-year-old left-arm spinner, who now has 394 wickets in 84 Assessments, gave his staff the much-needed wicket of a resolute Azhar Ali, luring him into an uppish drive which was brilliantly caught at quick mid-wicket by a diving Mendis.
Azhar’s defiant knock of 85 lasted greater than 5 hours and included 4 boundaries, however together with his dismissal Pakistan’s hopes of constructing a lead appeared slim.
However Sohail had different concepts as he added a useful 50 for the ninth wicket with tail-ender Hasan Ali to carry Pakistan from 340-Eight.
Sohail hit seven fours and two sixes earlier than holing out to paceman Nuwan Pradeep, who completed with 2-77.
Hasan’s whirlwind 25-ball 29 featured three sixes and two fours.
The second and last Check — a day-night affair — will probably be performed in Dubai from October 6.
