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Pakistan struggle after Shah claims five wickets

Pakistan's Yasir Shah (below) dives to stop the ball hit by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (not pictured) during the first day of their second test cricket match in Colombo June 25, 2015. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

(Reuters) - Pakistan suffered a top order collapse to reach tea on 117 for four after leg-spinner Yasir Shah had claimed his third five-wicket haul of the series on the second day of the third and final test against Sri Lanka on Saturday. Azhar Ali was batting on 47 with Sarfraz Ahmed (14) at the other end when heavy rain at Pallekele forced an early tea with Pakistan still 161 runs behind Sri Lanka's first innings total. Resuming on 272 for eight, the hosts earlier added six runs before losing their last two wickets inside four overs. Shah (5-78) dismissed Nuwan Pradeep as Sri Lanka's last five wickets could only add 30 runs to the total in the series-deciding test. After claiming 22 victims in five innings, Shah will fancy his chances of surpassing Australian spin great Shane Warne's record haul of 26 wickets in a series by a visiting bowler in Sri Lanka. His team, however, find themselves deep in trouble after losing three wickets in the morning and one more in the rain-truncated second session of the day. Sri Lankan paceman Dhammika Prasad troubled the Pakistani openers with his lively pace and was rewarded when he trapped Shan Masood (13) leg before with a yorker. Pradeep tasted success with his third delivery when Ahmed Shehzad (21), caught in two minds, withdrew his bat but not before the ball had kissed an edge en route to the wicketkeeper. Younus Khan (three) made matters worse for the tourists when he set off on a suicide single and could not beat Kaushal Silva's direct throw from short midwicket. Rain forced the players off the field in the 31st over of the innings and soon after play resumed, Prasad trapped Asad Shafiq (15) leg before to put Sri Lanka well on top. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, nursing a groin injury, did not come out to bat and a second rain-interruption soon forced the players off the field again.