Sri Lanka took three wickets in the morning session of the fifth day to leave Pakistan facing two tense sessions to save the first Test in the Lankan town of Galle today.
The tourists, trailing by 82 runs on the first innings, moved from their overnight score of 4-1 to 66-4 in their second knock by lunch.
Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 18 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq was on seven.
Sri Lanka have a minimum of 66 overs on a pitch that shows no signs of breaking up to bowl Pakistan out quickly and force an unexpected win in the opening match of the two-Test series.