Galle, Sri Lanka - Pakistan's new-look bowling attack dealt regular blows to keep Sri Lanka on a tight leash on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Saturday.
The hosts, who were 104-3 at lunch, went to tea at 194-5 after being sent in to bat by Pakistani captain Younus Khan on a wicket freshened up by early morning rain in this coastal town.
Teenage fast bowler Mohammmad Aamir and seamer Abdul Rauf, both making Test debuts alongside off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, responded to their skipper's gamble in brilliant fashion.
Aamir claimed two wickets in his first three overs and Rauf chipped in with two more to leave the strong Sri Lankan batting tottering on the even-paced wicket at the Galle International Stadium.
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Left-handed opener Tharanga Paranavitana was Sri Lanka's saviour with 72, adding 75 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (30) and 43 for the fourth with Thilan Samaraweera (31).
Tillakaratne Dilshan and debutant Angelo Mathews were together at tea, having put on 34 valuable runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.
The 17-year-old Aamer, who was one of Pakistan's heroes in their triumphant World Twenty20 campaign in England last month, justified his Test debut at the expense of seasoned all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.
The left-armer struck with the last ball of his first over in Test cricket when he bowled opener Malinda Warnapura for two as the batsman was beaten by pace and chopped the ball on his off-stump.
Aamer then removed Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in his third over, forcing the star batsman to edge a short ball to Shoaib Malik at third slip.
Aamer should have had two more wickets but Malik dropped Paranavitana, then on four, and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal let off Jayawardene before the batsman had scored a run.
Akmal made amends 90 minutes later when he snapped up Jayawardene off Rauf, but not before the former Sri Lankan captain had partnered Paranavitana in the rescue act.
Rauf had Paranavitana caught by Misbah-ul Haq at first slip midway through the post-lunch session, before part-timer Younus dismissed Samaraweera through a catch by the wicket-keeper.
The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 while on way to resume a Test match.
The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and killed eight local security men.
The first Test began 13 days after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final at Lord's on June 21. - Sapa-AFP
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