Wily leg-spinner Danish Kaneria grabbed 5-62 as Pakistan inched ahead of Sri Lanka on the second day of the third and final cricket Test here yesterday.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal chipped in with 3-70 as Pakistan, bowled out for 299 in the first innings, hit back to dismiss Sri Lanka for 233 in the final session of an absorbing day's play.

The tourists were 16-1 in their second knock at stumps to take an overall lead of 82 runs with nine wickets in hand on a pitch aiding spin at the Sinhalese sports club.

Mahela Jayawardene, who top-scored for Sri Lanka with a fluent 79, dismissed suggestions the wicket would become unplayable on the third and fourth days.

"It's not a bad wicket at all," he said. "I think we did not bat to our potential. We should have batted them out of the match, but credit must go to Pakistan's bowlers.

"I think we did well to get to 233. Now we must put them under pressure and ensure we do not have a very big target to chase in the fourth innings."