Sri Lanka were 3-132 at lunch on Thursday on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai.
Opener Kaushal Silva was unbeaten on 40 and Mahela Jayawardene was 19 not out as Sri Lanka closed in on Pakistan’s first innings total of 165.
Sri Lanka, who resumed on 1-57, lost Kumar Sangakkara (26) and Dinesh Chandimal (12) in the morning session.
Paceman Junaid Khan took 2-36.
The three-Test series is tied at 0-0 after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi last week.