The incident occured after the batsman top edged an attempted hook shot off Pollock's bowling.

"I walked over to pat him on the helmet and tell him ' You jammy little so-and-so'.

"I don't think he appreciated me touching him, which is understandable, but I've had a chat with him and it's fine," Pollock said at the close of play.

"It was done in good spirit on my part."

Bad light resulted in 28 overs of play being lost, but Pollock remained hopeful of forcing a win on the final day.

"Jayawardene and Tillekeratne have been playing well, but if we can break that partnership there's a long tail.