Shoaib Malik roared back to form with his second Test hundred as Pakistan stretched their lead to over 300 runs.

Misbah-ul Haq cracked a timely half-century as Pakistan regained command in the final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Misbah scored an unbeaten 56, while Shoaib Malik made an unbeaten 46 as the duo helped Pakistan recover well from the fall of three wickets in the morning session with an unbroken 101-run stand for the fifth wicket.

The visitors reached 168 for four at tea on the third day, a formidable lead of 234 which puts them in a strong position to deny the home side a clean sweep in the series.

The visitors had begun the day badly, losing overnight batman and opener Fawad Alam (16) early.

The wickets of Younus Khan (19) and Mohammad Yousuf (23) later in session had opened the door for the home side, who had conceded a first-innings lead of 66, to make a comeback.

But Misbah and Malik had stemmed the fall of wickets with a solid, though slow, approach immediately after the lunch interval and accelerated nicely as the session progressed.

Misbah extended the lead past the 200-run mark by clubbing left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for a four and a six in one over and reached his third Test half-century by putting away a full-toss from Thilan Thushara.

Malik provided fine support at the other end, hitting three fours and a six during his stay at the crease.

In the morning, Thushara claimed his sixth wicket of the match when he caught Alam off his own bowling.

Alam, who had nearly run himself out off the first delivery of the day, had added only two runs to his overnight 14 when he attempted a strange shot against a short-pitched delivery from Thushara.

Alam attempted a half-flick, half-pull but was hit high on the bat and presented Thushara with a simple catch.

Younus had looked in good touch although he got off the mark with an edged boundary which flew through the slip cordon.

The Pakistan skipper went on to make 19, including three boundaries, before falling victim to a poor leg-before decision from umpire Ian Gould.

Younus had got forward to defend a delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara and was struck above the knee roll, but Gould gave him out despite the height. Television replays also showed a clear a inside edge.

Pakistan were 54 for three at that stage and slipped further when Herath again dismissed Yousuf.

Yousuf had battled hard against his nemesis, but Herath prevailed when he induced an edge which wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara gloved neatly.

Sangakkara had donned the gloves from the start of the innings and continued this morning because of a finger injury to Tillakaratne Dilshan.