Quotes: Day four reaction

Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilhara Fernando combined to put Sri Lanka on course for a probable victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Faisalabad.

Opener Jayasuriya hit a brilliant 253, including four sixes and 33 fours, as the tourists totalled 438 all out.

Pace bowler Fernando helped add 102 for the ninth wicket, although his personal contribution was only a single.

He then took 4-27 as Pakistan slumped to 114-4 at the close, having been set a target of 418.

They began their innings knowing they would need a Test record-equalling score to win the game - the record set by West Indies last year when they made 418-7 to beat Australia.

Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed gave them a good start with a stand of 59, but Hameed's exit for 17 shortly after tea proved a significant blow.

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He was lbw to Fernando, who removed Farhat for 53 in similar fashion after bowling Asim Kamal for a single.

As has happened so often, the responsibility for steadying the innings fell on home skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and his deputy Yousuf Youhana.

But Inzamam, for once, was not up to the task, bowled on the back foot for three by Fernando, who last played Test cricket 10 months ago.

Youhana survived to reach 23 not out at the close, with Shoaib Malik on three.

Pakistan had enjoyed the better of the morning session, picking up five wickets despite the absence of Mohammad Sami with a groin strain.

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Thilan Samaraweera was run out or 21 by Abdul Razzaq's throw and Jehan Mubarak followed for a duck when he edged a ball from Shoaib and wicket-keeper Moin Khan claimed his third catch of the innings.

Romesh Kaluwitharana only managed a single before he hit Danish Kaneria to substitute fielder Naved-ul-Hasan at mid-off and Chaminda Vaas was bowled by Shoaib Malik for four.

But Jayasuriya threw caution to the wind following the resumption and it was Shoaib Akhtar who bore the brunt of his assault.

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He was hooked for six as the left-hander reached 200 for the third time in a Test and then conceded four boundaries in his next over.

Fernando was little more than a spectator at the other end after joining Jayasuriya in the middle when Rangana Herath was lbw to spinner Danish Kaneria shortly before lunch.

He faced only 23 balls as they surpassed the previous Sri Lankan ninth wicket record of 83 between Hashan Tillakaratne and Muttiah Muralitharan against England 11 years ago.

Fernando was eventually run out after being called for a quick single and Kaneria (4-118) won another lbw decision in the next over to end Jayasuriya's innings.

His score was the second highest of his Test career, beaten only by the 340 he made against India in 1997.

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Capt), Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan (Wkt), Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria.