KARACHI, Oct 30: A blazing unbeaten 96 by Sanath Jayasuriya enabled Sri Lanka to launch a spirited fight-back after Pakistan secured a huge first-innings lead of 270 on a fluctuating third day of the second Test at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

The tourists, who lead the two-match rubber 1-0, went to stumps at 134 for one in the second innings, still 136 runs from making Pakistan bat for the second time. Kumar Sangakkara was the other not out batsman with five to his credit.

The only casualty in the Sri Lankan innings was their captain Marvan Atapattu who had gone for 25 after putting on 117 for the first wicket with Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya, in his imitable dominating style, led the run spree with a series of blazing strokes to all corners of the field, especially thriving on his beloved cut shot, as he spanked 68 of the 100-run partnership in the 17th over.

Sri Lanka will be hoping for a similar kind of innings from their elder statesman in conditions which have now become batsmen-friendly. The pitch holds no terror as it did on the first day when the ball seamed disconcertingly.

From Sri Lanka's point of view, Danish Kaneria, the leg-spinner, is going to be the main worry as he will be looking forward to exploit the bowlers' footmarks.

For Pakistan, the main dangerlooms in the shape of Jayasuriya as they head towards the penultimate day of the series. After all, it was the veteran's unforgettable 253 that decided the first Test at Faisalabad.

The 35-year-old from Matara was particularly severe on the inexperienced duo of Rana Naveedul Hasan and Riaz Afridi, who between them conceded 50 runs in six overs.

Jayasuriya, who had brought up his half-century off 49 balls with eight fours and one six, became Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer when he crossed Aravinda de Silva's aggregate of 6361 in 93 Tests by smashing medium-pacer Abdul Razzaq through the covers on 79.

Atapattu, who as usual let Jayasuriya take the attack to the bowlers, perished to a good catch by Yasir Hameed at forward short-leg off Kaneria after getting an inside onto his pad.

Earlier, Inzamamul Haq brought up his 20th Test century as Pakistan were dismissed for 478 ,three minutes prior to the tea interval after adding 180 to their overnight score 298 for four, in reply to Sri Lanka's moderate first innings tally of 208.

Inzamam, who resumed the day at 79, reached his eighth century on home soil and his third at the National Stadium before he was out for a well-played 117. The 34-year-old right-hander's fifth century against Sri Lanka came up when he nudged paceman Dilhara Fernando towards square-leg for a single having battled through 82 minutes on the third morning.

Inzamam, who made 138 in the Karachi Test of the 1999-2000 series, took four hours and 10 minutes and faced 215 balls to complete his second hundred as captain.

Pakistan looked on course for a bigger lead when Inzamam and Youhana carried the score to 372. But Youhana, not for the first time lapsed in concentration and nicked a Fernando delivery to Sangakkara after making 46 off 64 balls in the 74-run stand with his captain.

Sri Lanka scalped the prized wicket of Inzamam just four balls after lunch when Chaminda Vaas, at last, got his man, caught in the slips by Mahela Jayawardene to end his 328-minute vigil at the crease. Inzamam, in all, struck 10 fours and one six, during his 244-ball knock.

Shoaib Malik and Razzaq combined to add 50 invaluable runs for the seventh-wicket but the innings subsided quickly after their partnership was broken when Razzaq holed out to mid-on off Jayasuriya for 16.

Malik was ninth out after another impressive contribution of 44 in almost two hours while striking five boundaries.

Vaas, the 30-year-old left-arm seamer, toiled hard but was only rewarded with three for 106 in 33 overs. Fernando also bagged three wickets but was taken for 96 runs in 22.1 overs.

Rangana Herath, the slow left-armer, bowled intelligently but, like Vaas, remained generally unlucky with unflattering analysis of two for 125 in 33 overs.

For the first time in the match, there was a crowd, mostly containing school children allowed free entry, which livened up the day's action. Otherwise, there was not much for the spectators.

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