Pakistan v Sri Lanka: Live updates from Day 3 in Dubai

Pakistan are depending on their most dependable duo of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan to bail them out at the end of the third day of the second Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq was battling along to steer his side out of trouble on the third day of the second Test in Dubai. Ishara Kodikara / AFP

Morning session

Sri Lanka 388 all out

After toiling all day for just three wickets yesterday, Pakistan’s bowlers enjoyed a far more fruitful start in this morning’s opening session in Dubai.

All four bowlers used by Misbah-ul-Haq tasted success as the final six Sri Lankan wickets all fell in the session.

Rahat Ali started the collapse as he sent back Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews with no addition to his overnight 42.

Saeed Ajmal ended Mahela Jayawardene’s vigil as the centurion was out bowled behind his legs attempting a reverse-sweep, and later concluded the innings when he had Nuwan Pradeep adjudged lbw.

Prasanna Jayawardene was bowled through the gate by a moody Junaid Khan, Shaminda Eranga played on to give Bilawal Bhatti his first victim, while Rangana Herath was run out.

Despite the flurry for wickets, Sri Lanka remain in the box seats in the match, with a first innings advantage of 223 over Pakistan.

Afternoon session

Pakistan 85 for three

Not for the first time in either of their careers, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq were left to repair the damage of a top-order collapse for Pakistan.

This time the two senior players in the side were brought together prematurely at 19 for three as none of Pakistan’s top three could muster double figures.

Nuwan Pradeep took his match haul to five wickets after he had both Mohammed Hafeez and Khurram Manzoor caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene.

Misbah, the captain, and Younis, a former incumbent in that role, then started the unlikely salvage operation, reaching tea together in an unbroken stand of 66.

EVENING SESSION

Pakistan 132 for three

Misbah and Younis shared in a century partnership for the ninth time in Test matches, as they made it through an evening session which was curtailed by bad light.

The Pakistanis still face a tough assignment of they are to salvage a result from the match, as they trail by 91 runs overnight.

However, the modest crowd who had made it to Dubai International Cricket Stadium after Friday prayers were at least buoyed by the fight shown by the two veterans.

Younis was unconquered on 63 at stumps, while his partner had made it to 53.

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