Sri Lankan openers fought hard to remain united after their team conceded a 164-run lead to Pakistan on the third day of the second Test here on Friday.
Sri Lanka, who were dismissed for 239 in the first innings, moved to 17 without loss in their second knock by tea at Dubai Stadium Stadium, still needing another 147 to avoid an innings defeat.
At the break, Tharanga Paranavitana was unbeaten on 10 and with him fellow opener Lahiru Thirimanne on seven not out, as Sri Lanka looked for a similar performance they put in the second innings of the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for 403 an hour after lunch, with Asad Shafiq scoring 59 and wicket-keeper batsman Adnan Akmal chipping in with a useful 41.
Dhammika Prasad and Tillakaratne Dilshan chipped in with three wickets apiece while Chanaka Welegedara and spinner Rangana Herath took two each.
It was Welegedara who gave Sri Lanka the much-needed early breakthrough by dismissing Misbah-ul Haq (41) in the second over of the day and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (20) after Pakistan resumed at 281-4.
Pakistan had looked to their captain Misbah to steer them to a big lead, but the experienced batsman fell caught behind, chasing a wide delivery from Welegedara.
Misbah hit two boundaries and a six.
Ajmal frustrated Sri Lankan bowlers, adding an invaluable 41 for the sixth wicket before Welegedara produced a sharp outgoing delivery and the ensuing edge was well taken by Angelo Mathews in the slip.
Shafiq, initially cautious, then opened up by hoisting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over long-on for a six and ath other end Akmal drove Welegedara twice to cover boundaries.
In the same Welegedara over Shafiq hit another boundary to get Pakistan lead past 100-mark and then with a couple in Herath’s over reached his third Test half-century.
Shafiq fell soon after lunch when he cut casually off Prasad straight into the hands of gully where Mahela Jayawardene held an easy cath. Shafiq hit four boundaries and a six.
Herath then Abdul Rehman (nought) and Umar Gul (two) in the same over before Dilshan had Akmal caught behind the finish the innings.
The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from 3-7 November.
