Late Mahela Jayawardene wicket hands hope to Pakistan

PAKISTAN grabbed the prized wicket of Mahela Jayawardene to press their advantage for a series-levelling win over Sri Lanka in the third Test in Sharjah.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal removed Jayawardene for 46 near stumps on the fourth day after an exciting tussle between the bat and ball as Sri Lanka finished at 5-133.

They now lead by 220 runs with five wickets in hand and a full day's play to retain their 1-0 lead.

They won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets after the first ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

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At the close Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 14 and with him Prasanna Jayawardene was on six not out.

Jayawardene and Mathews had frustrated Pakistan in the last session through their slow-paced 38-run fifth wicket stand and when it seemed both will see off the day, Ajmal had Jayawardene caught at short-leg.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said his team will go for the win.

"It will be an interesting fifth day," said Whatmore.

"We need five wickets quickly."

Sri Lanka paceman Shaminda Eranga said his side will look for more runs.

"Obviously, we will look to build partnership and increase our lead to get out of danger," said Eranga.

Jayawardene, who struck 129 in Sri Lanka's nine-wicket win in the second Test in Dubai, swept Ajmal over deep square-leg for a six to complete 11,000 runs in his 141st Test.

He became the eighth batsman in all Test cricket and the first Sri Lankan to score 11,000 or more runs in a list topped by now-retired India's Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921.