Pakistan was in a strong position on day three of the second Test against Sri Lanka as the visitors were leading by 397 runs at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo.

The green team racked up 563 at the loss of five wickets in their first innings after getting Sri Lanka all out on 166 runs.

Opening batter Abdullah Shafique scored a double ton becoming the first visiting opener to score a double at SSC, Colombo and the third-youngest double-centurion for Pakistan after Javed Miandad and Hanif Mohammad.

Pakistan are leading the series by one-nil in the two-test series having won the opening match in Galle by four wickets.

Pakistan lost the first wicket of the day after Pakistan’s Babar Azam innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya for a sixth time in his career. He added 39 to the total.

After his departure Saud Shakeel came in the middle to join Shafique. The middle order batter was trapped leg before by Asitha Fernando, after racking up his sixth Test fifty in seven Tests.

He became the first batter in the history of Test cricket to score fifty or more in each of their first seven Tests. He also has two hundreds to his name.

His dismissal brought Sarfaraz Ahmed to the crease, who walked down the track on his first ball only to be bounced by Asitha and cop a blow on the back of the helmet.

He would collect three boundaries in his 22-ball stay, before a delayed onset concussion from that knock forced him to retire hurt.

Ahmed was replaced by Mohammad Rizwan, as Salman Agha took over and was unbeaten at 132 off of 148 balls. Rizwan was giving company having scored 37 not out.

Earlier, Pakistan eclipsed Sri Lanka’s meagre first-innings total of 166 but could not press on as heavy rain allowed only 10 overs of play on the second day of the second test in Colombo on Tuesday.

Having added 33 runs to their overnight total, Pakistan were 178-2 when rain interrupted play, which was eventually called off in the afternoon.

Play will start 15 minutes earlier on Wednesday with Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique (87) and captain Babar Azam (28) hoping to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest.

Pakistan are 1-0 up in the two-test series having won the opening match in Galle by four wickets.

Abdullah Shafique and skipper Babar Azam steered Pakistan to a 12-run lead but rain halted their charge early on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

The tourists were 178-2 after resuming under gloomy skies on 145-2 with Abdullah Shafique, on 87, and skipper Babar Azam, on 28, batting in a stand of 57.

Only 43 minutes of play were possible before the downpour began and forced officials to call lunch, tea and finally stumps with the ground fully covered.

More rain is predicted on day three and Pakistan, who lead the two-match series 1-0, will depend on an aggressive approach to clinch the series.

Shafique and Azam took on the Sri Lankan bowlers with a string of boundaries after a couple of maiden overs to push for a big lead in response to Sri Lanka’s total of 166.

Shafique has smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 131-ball stay so far. Azam, who began the day on eight, took on the bowlers with a six and two fours in the 10 overs since play resumed.

Pakistan bowlers combined to dismiss Sri Lanka in the second session on the opening day after the hosts elected to bat first.

Shafique extended Pakistan’s domination with a second-wicket stand of 108 with Shan Masood, who made 51, to put Sri Lanka on the back foot with their attacking play.