Thilan Samaraweera's fourth Test hundred and Shoaib Akhtar's ninth five-wicket haul dominated an absorbing second day of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Faisalabad on Thursday.

Sri Lanka, who were bowled out for 243 after losing three wickets in 22 balls, fought back to reduce Pakistan to 256 for eight at the close.

Pakistan, bidding for their first home series win over Sri Lanka since 1995-96, lead by just 13 runs on an increasingly docile pitch.

Pakistan lost their way after rapid moving on to 85 for one at lunch, losing three wickets before tea and four in the final session.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (32), Shoaib Malik (48), Moin Khan (5) and Abdul Razzaq (39) fell in the final session to hand the tourists the initiative.

Moin was bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya with seven overs remaining and Razzaq was caught in the slips off Chaminda Vaas.

Pakistan mustered only two notable partnerships, Yasir Hameed (58) and Asim Kamal (17) putting on 66 for the second wicket and Inzamam and Malik adding 54 for the fifth.

The morning session was dominated by the 28-year-old Samaraweera, who square cut the first ball he received from Shoaib for a three to reach his century.

Shoaib took his revenge, however, when he dismissed Samaraweera in the same over and he also accounted for Dilhara Fernando to complete figures of five for 60, his ninth five-wicket haul in his 33rd Test.

His new ball partner Mohammad Sami took four for 71, bowling last man Lasith Malinga for one.

Pakistan made a flying start with Hameed, opening for the first time in Tests, hitting 10 fours mainly through the leg side.

Seamer Dilhara Fernando removed Kamal in the sixth over after lunch when he chased a wide ball outside off stump.

He then had Hameed caught at square leg for 58, his fourth half century in his 11th Test.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath had Yousuf Youhana caught behind for 17 and in the final session Inzamam top-edged a catch to mid-on.

Malik was run out by a direct throw from Vaas at mid-on as he tried to steal a single.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka first innings (overnight 233-7)
M.Atapattu lbw Shoaib Akhtar 0
S.Jayasuriya c Asim Kamal b Mohammad Sami 38
K.Sangakkara c Imran Farhat b Shoaib Akhtar 2
M.Jayawardene c Moin Khan b Mohammad Sami 0
T.Samaraweera c Mohammad Sami b Shoaib Akhtar 100
 J.Mubarak c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Mohammad Sami 34
R.Kaluwitharana c & b Danish Kaneria 4
C.Vaas c Yousuf Youhana b Shoaib Akhtar 22
R.Herath not out 33
Dilhara Fernando b Shoaib Akhtar 0
Lasith Malinga b Mohammad Sami 1

Extras (lb-3 nb-6) 9

Total (all out, 81.4 overs) 243

Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-6 3-9 4-77 5-142 6-147 7-180 8-237 9-242

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 19-3-60-5 (nb-1), Mohammad Sami 21.4-5-71-4 (nb-4), Abdul Razzaq 15-5-33-0 (nb-1), Danish Kaneria 18-3-53-1, Shoaib Malik 8-1-23-0

Pakistan first innings
Yasir Hameed c Mubarak b Fernando 58
Imran Farhat c Mubarak b Malinga 11
Asim Kamal c Jayawardene b Fernando 17
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Malinga b Herath 32
Yousuf Youhana c Kaluwitharana b Herath 17
Shoaib Malik run out (Vaas) 48
Abdul Razzaq c Jayawardene b Vaas 39
Moin Khan b Jayasuriya 5
Mohammad Sami not out 2
Shoaib Akhtar not out 6

Extras (b-6 lb-4 nb-11) 21

Total (for eight wickets, 77 overs) 256

To bat: Danish Kaneria.

Fall of wickets: 1-28 2-94 3-109 4-134 5-188 6-227 7-246 8-248

Bowling: Vaas 22-5-56-1 (nb-1), Malinga 10-1-50-1 (nb-4), Fernando 16-0-65-2 (nb-6), Herath 24-4-66-2, Samaraweera 1-0-5-0, Jayasuriya 4-1-4-1.