Younis Khan hit his first Test century for 2-1/2 years and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq struck an undefeated 79 as Pakistan took control of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Karachi on Friday.
The pair added 149 runs for the third wicket from 282 balls to propel Pakistan to 298 for four at the close of the second day, a first innings lead of 90.
Younis was caught at slip by Thilan Samaraweera off left arm spinner Rangana Herath for 124 four overs before the close after a 215-ball innings containing 12 fours and a six.
He also shared a second wicket stand of 122 in 175 balls with Imran Farhat (72).
Sri Lanka took the second new ball immediately after Younis's dismissal and Chaminda Vaas bowled nightwatchman Riaz Afridi (9) to signal the end of play.
The Sri Lankans, who won the first Test of the two-match series in Faisalabad by 201 runs, were dismissed for 208 runs on the opening day.
On Friday their bowlers had to toil for 46 overs after getting rid of Yasir Hameed (3) and Farhat before lunch before they got another wicket.
Younis paced his innings perfectly and played Dilhara Fernando square after tea for two runs to reach his sixth Test hundred from 164 balls.
It was his first century since he scored 153 against the West Indies at Sharjah in February 2002 in his first Test since September last year.
MEMORABLE
"This is perhaps the most valuable and memorable hundred for me in my career. I was under pressure in this match to perform and I came good," said Younis.
"I have been out of the Test team for more than a year now and I think this hundred has done my chances of becoming a permanent member of the side a world of good."
"I knew before I went out to bat that I needed to get a big score to convince everyone I was a quality Test batsman. I was under pressure initially but than enjoyed the innings.
"Of my six hundreds I enjoyed this the most. The ball swung a bit but there is nothing wrong with the pitch."
Inzamam looked in fine form in his 157 balls and 208 minutes stay in the middle and raced to his 37th Test half-century from only 91 balls, hitting five fours and a straight six off Herath.
Appearing in his 96th Test, he also became the second Pakistani batsmen to score 7,000 Test runs when he passed 66.
He is now Pakistan's second highest Test run-getter after Javed Miandad (8,832 runs).
The Sri Lankans enjoyed some success when Yasir was caught behind off Farveez Maharoof and Imran Farhat was trapped leg before by Chaminda Vaas.
Kumar Sangakkara kept wickets throughout the day in place of Romesh Kaluwitharana who is recovering from a hand injury he sustained bating on the first day.
Scoreboard:
Sri Lanka first innings 208 (Romesh Kaluwitharana 54; Abdul Razzaq 5-35)
Pakistan first innings
Yasir Hameed c Sangakkara b Maharoof 3
Imran Farhat lbw Vaas 72
Younis Khan c Samaraweera b Herath 124
Inzamam-ul-Haq not out 79
Riaz Afridi b Vaas 9
Extras (lb-5, nb-6) 11
Total (for four wickets in 82.4 overs) 298
To bat: Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved, Danish Kaneria.
Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-135 3-284 4-298
Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 17.4-0-57-2 (1-nb), Farveez Maharoof 17-3-46-1, Dilhara Fernando 13-1-62-0 (4-nb), Rangana Herath 20-1-73-1, Jehan Mubarak 4-0-23-0, Sanath Jayasuriya 5-1-20-0, Thilan Samaraweera 6-0-12-0 (1-nb).
