With a hundred to his name in the first innings, Kapugedara is a strong contender to be in the opening line up of the first Test Match that gets underway at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Resuming from the overnight score of 305 for five, the Pakistanis lost quick wickets and were placed at 322 for eight at one stage in the morning, but an unbroken 78 run stand for the ninth wicket between Fawad Alam and Abdur Rauf enabled the tourists to take a first innings lead of 55 runs.

Alam faced 114 deliveries in his knock of 83 runs with the help of six boundaries while Rauf, who will take the new ball in the first Test, was the aggressive partner requiring just 31 balls for his 39 with four boundaries and three sixes.

Suraj Mohammad was the most impressive of the bowlers as he picked up four wickets while Muthumudalige Pushpakumara had three scalps to his name.

In the second innings, Upul Tharanga and Tharanga Paranavithana added 66 runs for the first wicket before Tharanga fell for 44 having faced 60 deliveries where he hit five boundaries and a six. Tharanga Paranavithana scored 48 in 102 balls and hit nine boundaries.

When the innings was declared, Kaushal Silva, who was promoted to number three, was unbeaten on 34 with Gihan Rupasinghe on nine.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka Cricket XI 345/5 and 137/2

(U. Tharanga 44, T. Paranavithana 48, K. Silva 34)

Pakistan 400/8 and 54/4