GALLE, Sri Lanka - Pakistan staged a minor recovery after a poor start to their innings to reach 120 for four at lunch on the second day of a delicately balanced first test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
At the interval, Mohammad Yousuf was unbeaten on 30 on his return to international cricket and Misbal ul Haq was on 16.
Pakistan started the day on 15-2 in reply to Sri Lanka's 292 but despite losing two wickets in a keenly contested first session, the tourists added 105 runs in 26 overs to edge closer to the home side's total.
Fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara claimed the first victim of the day with the dismissal of nightwatchman Abdur Rauf for 31.
Rauf, who was caught behind, frustrated Sri Lanka's bowlers in the first hour and helped add 50 for the third wicket with Younus Khan.
All rounder Angelo Mathews then snared a wicket in his first over in test cricket, finding the outside edge of Younus's bat with an outswinger to dismiss the Pakistan skipper for 25.
Yousuf, selected in this series after the lifting of a ban imposed for playing in the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League, steadied the innings with an assured 30 from 40 deliveries with four boundaries.
Kulasekara was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers, claiming 2-25 in 10 overs.
