Pakistan progressed slowly to 85-0 at lunch on the third day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah today.
Openers Khurram Manzoor (41) and Ahmed Shahzad (42) were extra cautious as they added only 66 runs in the two-hour session after resuming at 19-0 on a flat pitch.
Pakistan need another 143 runs to avoid follow-on after Sri Lanka mustered 428-9 declared in their first innings.
Pakistan are trailing 1-0 in the three-match series after losing the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets. The first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Khurram, who scored 73 in the second Test, hit four boundaries and looked more inclined to go for shots as Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack made runs hard to come by.
Shehzad, whose place was in danger after two failures in Dubai, was more cautious against left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, hitting four boundaries during his knock.
Sri Lanka's total was built around debutant Dilruwan Perera's 95 and skipper Angelo Mathews's 91.
