A majestic, undefeated 131 from Sanath Jayasuriya put Sri Lanka in the driving seat against Pakistan on the third day of the first Test on Friday.

Appearing in his 93rd Test, Jayasuriya reeled out his 13th Test hundred to allow Sri Lanka to finish on 285 for three at the close, an overall lead of 264.

The 35-year-old reached his hundred in style in the final session by lofting leg spinner Danish Kaneria for a big six over mid-wicket.

Having survived a caught behind off a no-ball from Shoaib Akhtar when he was on nine, Jayasuriya had added 69 with Thilan Samaraweera (15) at the close.

His 100 came from 164 balls in 278 minutes with 13 fours and a six.

In the final session in which the Lankans added exactly 100, Mahela Jayawardene was out caught behind for 57 after getting a faint edge to Kaneria.

Jayasuriya, who struggled for a brief period as he neared his century, was savage afterwards hitting Abdul Razzaq for three fours in one over.

Sri Lanka had started their second innings badly with skipper Marvan Atapattu collecting a pair when Shoaib again trapped him leg before.

But after losing Atapattu, the Sri Lankans showed more resilience after being bowled out for 243 in the first innings.

Pakistan in reply could manage 264 losing their last two wickets on Friday for eight to enjoy only a 21-runs advantage.

On a pitch that is offering some encouragement to the slow bowlers, Jayasuriya had partnerships of 98 with Kumar Sangakkara (59) and 118 with Jayawardene.

Pakistan's highest successful run chase remains 314 against Australia in Karachi in 1994. They are bidding to win their first home series against the Lankans since 1995-96.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 243 (T.Samaraweera 100; Shoaib Akhtar 5-60)

Pakistan (1st innings): (overnight 256-8)
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 5
Shoaib Akhtar lbw Herath 6
Danish Kaneria run out (Jayasuriya) 1.

Extras: (b-6, lb-4, nb-12) 22

Total: (all out, 84.1 overs) 264

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-94, 3-109, 4-134, 5-188, 6-227, 7-246, 8-248, 9-262.

Bowling: Vaas 26-5-62-1 (nb-2), Malinga 10-1-50-1 (nb-4), Fernando 16-0-65-2 (nb-6), Herath 27.1-5-68-3, Samaraweera 1-0-5-0, Jayasuriya 4-1-4-1.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings):
M.Atapattu lbw Shoaib Akhtar 0
S.Jayasuriya not out 131
K.Sangakkara c Moin Khan b Shoaib Akhtar 59
M.Jayawardene c Moin Khan b Danish Kaneria 57
T.Samaraweera not out 15.

Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-2, nb-11, penalty runs-5) 23

Total: (for three wickets, 70 overs) 285

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-98, 3-216

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 13-1-61-2 (nb-5, w-2), Mohammad Sami 12-1-48-0 (nb-4), Abdul Razzaq 18-7-61-0 (nb-2), Danish Kaneria 23-1-87-1, Shoaib Malik 4-0-18-0.