Sri Lanka owed it to their bowlers for taking the opening day honours against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai on Wednesday.
The visitors finished the day at 1-57 in reply to Pakistans’ feeble first innings of 165.
Sri Lanka lost opener Dimuth Karunaratne lbw to Junaid Khan for 32 before Kaushal Silva and Kumar Sangakkara closed out the day with both unbeaten on 12 as the tourists trail by 108 runs on a day dominated by the bowlers.
A three-pronged pace and one-man spin attack helped Sri Lanka bowl out Pakistan for just 165 after Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bowl on a seaming Dubai stadium pitch.
Paceman Nuwan Pradeep finished with a career-best 3-62 while spinner Rangan Herath took 3-26. Fast bowlers Shaminda Eranga (2-25) and Suranga Lakmal (2-45) were also useful in the second session.
But initially it looked as if Sri Lanka had miscalculated in bowling first as Ahmed Shehzad, trapped lbw by Pradeep in the 10th over for three, was the only man out by lunch, but five wickets fell for 71 runs as Pakistan slumped from 57-1 to 128-6 at tea.
Opener Khurram Manzoor top-scored with 73 in an otherwise insipid batting display.
Manzoor admitted the seam movement was difficult to handle.
“It wasn’t easy out there, toss was vital because pitch is helping seam bowlers,” said Manzoor.
Pakistan pinned their hopes on Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq but they lost their last eight wickets for 58 runs.
Eranga took the prized wickets of Younis and Misbah in the space of seven balls.
Younis, who made 13, tried to cut a wide delivery while Misbah was squared up on a moving delivery on one – both caught behind.
It was a rare failure for Misbah who was Pakistan’s best batsman in Tests and one-dayers last year.
Lakmal then had Manzoor caught behind off a rash shot and Asad Shafiq off a miscued drive for six.
Manzoor hit seven fours and a six during his 136-ball knock but failed to turn it into a big score and halt the slide.
Pradeep, who had three wickets in his previous four Tests, took the scalp of Sarfraz Ahmed after tea for seven to claim his best figures in Tests.
Herath polished off the tail to wrap Pakistan’s innings.
The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from January 16.