Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik put on an unbeaten 101-run stand Wednesday to put Pakistan in a commanding position in the third test against Sri Lanka.
The pair came together at 67-4 to take Pakistan to 168 at tea on the third day for a lead of 234 at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
Misbah was unbeaten on 56, his third test half-century, after hitting five fours and a six in 121 balls. Malik was 46, including two fours and a six.
Pakistan resumed the day on 16-1 after having a first-innings lead of 66, but lost three top-order wickets in the morning session.
The tourists, which lost the opening two games of the three-test series due to batting collapses, lost their first wicket for the day when opener Fawad Alam on 16 scooped a return catch to bowler Thilan Thushara with six runs added to the overnight score.
Pakistan captain Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf shared a 32-run partnership before Khan was out lbw for 16 to a dubious decision by English umpire Ian Gould.
Television replays showed that Khan got an inside edge to an inswinger from Nuwan Kulasekera before the ball hit high on a pad.
Yousuf was next out for 23, pushing forward to an away-turning delivery by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and edging the ball to reserve wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
Regular wicketkeeper Tillakaratne Dilshan did not take the field for Pakistan's second innings because of a fractured finger and a cut on the eyebrow after being hit by a ball while batting on Tuesday.
Herath was the best of Sri Lanka's bowlers in the second innings with figures of 2-73.
Batting first after losing the toss, Pakistan made 299 in the first innings before dismissing Sri Lanka for 233.
Sri Lanka lost its last five wickets for 69 in the post-tea session Tuesday despite Mahela Jayawardene's 79.
