Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene batted nicely on Wednesday

Sri Lanka took complete control of the first Test against Pakistan with an fine display on day three in Colombo.

The tourists began the morning on 124-4 but soon crumbled to 176 all out as Sri Lanka claimed a surprise first-innings lead of nine runs.

The home side then moved to 242-2 at stumps, with Kumar Sangakkara reaching 77 and Mahela Jayawardene on 69.

Farveez Maharoof did most of the damage for Sri Lanka, finishing with 4-52, while Muttiah Muralitharan took 3-41.

The hosts did not have to wait long for their first wicket on Tuesday.

Maharoof produced a superb leg cutter to oust Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was caught behind for 31 with just three runs added to the overnight total.

The same bowler then demolished Abdul Razzaq's stumps before Muralitharan cleaned up the lower order.

The key wicket for Murali was Shahid Afridi's - bowled by a quicker off-break that knocked back his off-stump.

A resurgent Sri Lanka celebrate the key wicket of Afridi

Kamran Akmal showed some resistance, but his innings of 27 ended when Upul Tharanga clung on to his full-blooded sweep at short-leg.

Pakistan needed wickets quickly when Sri Lanka began their second innings, but they managed to strike just twice.

Sanath Jayasuriya made 13 before edging Mohammad Asif to wicket-keeper Akmal, but the tourists had to wait a further two hours before Danish Kaneria removed Upul Tharanga (72) thanks to a fine catch at mid-on by Imran Farhat.

There was no joy at all for Kaneria and the rest of Pakistan's bowlers for the final 30 overs of the day, however, as Sangakkara and Jayawardene further strengthened Sri Lanka's position.