Paceman Bilawal Bhatti removed experienced Sri Lankan batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene off successive deliveries to put Pakistan in command of the first Test on Thursday.

The 22-year-old debutant removed Sangakkara (55) with the last ball of his tenth over and then had Jayawardene off the first of his next to leave Sri Lanka at 4-186 in their second innings at stumps on the third day on a Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch which had eased out for batsmen.

Junaid (2-46) built on the strikes by dismissing Kaushal Silva for 81, caught behind in the last over of the day.

Before that Silva, playing in his second Test, and Sangakkara added 99 for the second wicket which had thwarted Pakistan’s pace/spin attack in the last session.

Dinesh Chandimal was the unbeaten batsman with 24 as Sri Lanka, who conceded a 179-run lead in the first innings, moved seven runs ahead with six wickets in hand.

Pakistan were dismissed for 383 runs in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 204.

The experienced Sangakkara, who hit an epic double hundred to draw a Test at the same venue against Pakistan in 2011, brought up his 43rd Test fifty with a crisp cut shot off Bhatti (2-65) for his sixth boundary.

Bhatti seemed to have got Sangakkara on 29 when a sharp delivery trapped the left-hander leg before and English umpire Richard Kettleborough upheld the appeal but the batsman challenged the decision.

Television replays showed the ball was pitched on leg-stump and the umpire had to change the decision.

Bhatti had the last laugh as he forced an edge off Sangakkara which was smartly snapped up in the slips by Younis Khan.

In the morning Sri Lanka’s pace and spin attack brought their team back in the game by taking the last six wickets for an addition of just 54 runs after Pakistan resumed the day at 4-327.

Paceman Shaminda Eranga finished with 3-80 while left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took 3-90.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq scored 135. He hit 16 boundaries and a six off 306 balls before being last man out, caught at long-off off from spinner Herath.

In all Misbah batted for 425 minutes and his 218-run partnership with Younis Khan (136) on Wednesday set Pakistan on track for their big lead.