Karunaratne, Yasir light up final Test

Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne hit a century amid another rich haul by Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah as the decisive third and final Test began on a rousing note in Pallekele on Friday.

The hosts, sent in to bat after Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq won the toss for the third time in a row, stuttered to 272-8 in their first innings by stumps on the opening day.

Left-handed Karunaratne anchored the innings with a dogged 130, his second Test century following the 152 against New Zealand in Christchurch last December.

Yasir ended the day with four for 77, taking his tally in the series to 21 wickets, the most by a Pakistani bowler in a three-Test rubber in Sri Lanka.

The series is locked 1-1 after Pakistan won the first Test by 10 wickets and Sri Lanka responded with a seven-wicket victory in the second match.

Azhar Ali, who had taken two wickets with his part-time spin bowling in 43 previous Tests, doubled his tally with the wickets of Karunaratne and Dhammika Prasad off successive balls.

SCORES IN BRIEF

SRI LANKA: First innings 272 for 8 (Karunaratne 130, Tharanga 46, Mubarak 25, Chandimal 24, Kaushal 17  not out; Rahat 2-74, Yasir 4-77, Azhar 2-35)

PAKISTAN: Misbah (capt), Azhar, Shehzad, Masood, Younis, Shafiq, Sarfraz, Yasir, Imran, Adil, Rahat.