Sri Lanka have remained in control on day three of the second Test with Pakistan, after building a lead of 177 and claiming an early wicket in the visitors' second innings.

Pakistan managed to stop the hosts' scoring spree early on in the day, as Younis Khan caught Pathira Chameera off the bowling of Yasir Shah, finishing Sri Lanka's impressive first innings.

However, the Men in Green failed to build any momentum as Angelo Mathews claimed the early wicket of Mohammad Hafeez, who was caught at first slip by Kumar Sangakkara, with the Pakistani batsman only managing to put eight runs on the board.

Ahmed Shehzad helped Pakistan recover from the early wicket, scoring 39 runs and helping reduce his side's deficit to 115 runs.

Azhar Ali put on a 50 partnership with Shehzad, as the visitors went into lunch 62-1 on day three in Colombo.