Pak in SL: Karunaratne ton leads Sri Lanka to 272 on Day 1

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne scored his third Test century and anchored to help Sri Lanka reach 272 for the loss of 8 wickets against Pakistan at stumps on Day 1 of the third and final Test which began at Pallekele today (3).   Karunaratne hit 130 runs off 230 deliveries inclusive of 14 boundaries before being dismissed as the sixth Sri Lankan wicket when the total was 248.   Upul Tharanga who made a comeback to Tests, replacing Kumar Sangakkara who made himself unavailable, was the next top scorer, stroking 46 off 92 with six fours.   Jehan Mubarak (25) and Dinesh Chandimal (24) chipped in with valuable knocks while off-spinning allrounder Tharindu Kaushal remained unbeaten on 17 when stumps were drawn.   Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed four scalps while Rahat Ali and Azhar Ali grabbed two wickets each.   Pakistan won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat.   Sri Lanka came out with four changes replacing Kumar Sangakkara, Dushmantha Chameera, Rangana Herath and Kithruwan Vithanage with Upul Tharanga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Jehan Mubarak.   Pakistan too made four changes by calling in Shan Masood, Yasir Shah, Ehsan Adil and Imran Khan for Mohammad Hafeez, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riyaz and Zulfiqar Babar.   The three-match Test series is leveled at 1-1.   Sri Lanka 272 for 8 wickets (86) (Dimuth Karunaratne 130, Upul Tharanga 46, Dinesh Chandimal 24, Jehan Mubarak 25, Tharindu Kaushal 17n.o., Yasir Shah 4/77, Azhar Ali 2/35, Rahat Ali 2/74)   Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq Capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Ehsan Adil, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan.