Pakistan trails Sri Lanka by 305, 5 wickets left

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq added 151 runs for the fifth wicket Monday as Pakistan fought back in the first test against Sri Lanka to reach 205-5 at tea on the fourth day.

Pakistan trails by 305 at Galle International Stadium with four sessions more to survive in an uphill task to save the game. But the return to form of two key players is a boost for the tourists with two tests left in the series.

Pakistan lost a wicket in each of the two sessions. After nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal was run out in the second over of the morning, Shafiq joined former captain Younis and the pair confidently countered Sri Lanka's spinners.

The Galle pitch produced some bounce for spin bowlers earlier in the game, but by the fourth that had disappeared and the batsmen were content to play on the back foot and block.

Shafiq, who had been dropped when on 33 by Kumar Sangakkara at short mid-wicket, reached his half-century by flicking Nuwan Kulasekara for four.

Shafiq was finally dismissed when left-arm spinner Rangana Herath changed ends to bowl from the Dutch Fort End to entice an outside edge that was snapped up by Mahela Jayawardene at first slip.

Younis was unbeaten on 81 at tea. Sri Lanka had an opportunity to dismiss him when he was on 9 and lofted Herath to a diving Tillakaratne Dilshan at mid-off. Younis survived after television replays whether Dilshan held the catch were inconclusive.

On Sunday, Sri Lanka declined to enforce the follow-on after bowling out Pakistan for 100 in its first innings, only 10 more than its lowest-ever total against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, aware of bad weather forecasts for the final two days of the test, declared at 137-5 after Dilshan smashed 56 off 58 balls with nine fours.

Sri Lanka scored 472 in its first innings, with Kumar Sangakkara on 199 not out.