Dubai: Pakistan’s spirited bowling in the second innings dented Sri Lanka’s hopes of clinching the series in the second Test at the Dubai International Stadium yesterday.

The stage is set for an intense battle despite Sri Lanka dominating the majority of the three days. The first two days it was their batsmen who stole the thunder to post a mammoth 482 in the first innings. On the third day their bowlers, led by their wily veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (3 for 84) and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera (3 for 72), brilliantly backed by their pacers, bowled out Pakistan for 262.

Pakistan, anxious to prevent their first series defeat in UAE, despite trailing by 220 runs, came out all guns blazing to pick five Sri Lankan second innings wickets giving away only 34 runs. Though Pakistan earlier fell 21 runs short of the follow-on mark, Sri Lanka did not enforce the follow-on and, at close of play, were ahead by 254 with five wickets in hand.

Pakistan, resuming from their overnight score of 51 for no loss, lost their first wicket after adding ten more runs in the first 20 minutes of play. Sri Lanka’s debutant medium pacer Lahiru Gamage bagged his first Test wicket with a beautiful delivery to Shan Masood that pitched on off and nipped back to hit the stumps.

Opener Sami Aslam, who was shaping up for a long innings, fell to Perera. His stay at the wicket lasted 71 balls and was worth 39 runs before Perera beat him with a delivery that skid through to hit his pads. Aslam had wanted to play the ball towards mid-wicket but missed it and was caught plumb in front of the wicket. Still Aslam reviewed the decision and wasted a review for Pakistan. His stroke was a demonstration of both how not to play at such a delivery and also when not to ask for a review having played a very poor shot.

With both the openers back in the pavilion for 65 runs, the mantle of reviving Pakistan fell on the out-of-form Asad Shafiq. He unfortunately got a beauty of a delivery from Suranga Lakmal. It was a treat to watch Lakmal trap Shafiq for 12. After making two deliveries to seam into the batsman, he moved the third one away from the batsman to take Shafiq’s outside edge. Kusal Mendis at widish slip took a low catch to complete the dismissal.

Young Babar Azam then played a shot which stunned Pakistan fans into silence. He went back and whipped the ball in the air to Sadeera Samarawickrama at mid-wicket having made just eight.

With Pakistan having lost four wickets for 109 runs, Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail played cautiously. Azhar hit Gamage through the covers for a boundary. He went on to sweep Perera for another boundary to deep square leg. Twice, when Herath tossed the ball up, Azhar picked two boundaries, driving elegantly through the covers. He reached his 27th half-century in 114 balls.

Left-handed Sohail hit Herath for his first six in the 45th over over long on and then launched another six in the 55th over after stepping down the track.

Ten minutes before the dinner break, Herath trapped Azhar leg before for 59 to end the 71-run partnership with Sohail.

The Sri Lankans were delighted after they won the review, Herath’s slider having hit Azhar’s pad. As the ball kept low and the umpire had turned down their appeal, the Sri Lankans used the only review left for them and won a favourable decision.

Soon after the dinner break, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmad on 14 went for a sweep off Perera and only managed to lob the ball to the short-leg fielder Kusal Mendis.

Herath then returned to trap Mohammad Amir leg before while Perera ended Sohail’s innings for 56 in the same fashion.