Sri Lanka close in on big win over Pakistan

Sri Lanka turned the screws on Pakistan in the first Test in Galle after battering the tourists with both bat and ball on Day III yesterday

Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out for 100 in the first innings in reply to their own 472, with off-spinner Suraj Randiv grabbing 4-13 and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath taking 3-30.

Rangana Herath. Pic/AFP

The hosts surprisingly declined to enforce a follow-on despite a substantial lead of 372 runs and made 137-5 in their second knock when skipper Mahela Jayawardene declared in the final hour.

Pakistan, set an improbable victory target of 510 runs, were reduced to 36-3 by stumps after seamer Nuwan Kulasekara dismissed stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar.

Herath had Azhar Ali taken at silly-point by Thilan Samaraweera, leaving nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (11) and the team's most experienced batsman Younis Khan (0) at the crease.

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