Lunch Pakistan 336 for 2 (Taufeeq 144*, Younis 27*, Hafeez 75, Azhar 70) lead Sri Lanka 197 by 139 runs
Pakistan's batsmen continued to favour growth by continuous additions on the third morning, having set their sights on earning a substantial lead regardless of how much time it took. A lively spell of left-arm swing bowling by Chanaka Welegedara accounted for Azhar Ali, who, for the tenth time, failed to convert a half-century into a Test hundred.
That was the only bit of joy that came Sri Lanka's way as Taufeeq Umar's seventh successive session on the field did not bring any change in the patient approach that has now brought him two centuries in three Tests. He pushed Pakistan's lead towards 150 without taking any risks along with Younis Khan, who, when on 16, benefited from a dropped catch by Prasanna Jayawardene off Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Apart from that, and a couple of edges and mishits that didn't carry to the fielders, it was another session that belonged to Pakistan, though they were once again did not really dominating when they should have.
Welegedara gave Sri Lanka some relief with a ripping inswinger to uproot Azhar's off stump in the seventh over of the day. Taufeeq and Younis ensured that the relief was only temporary with a resolute half-century stand that had a sense of inevitability to it, both in the manner it came, and with the promise it carried.
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