Sri Lanka opener Oshada Fernando struck a maiden century to delay Pakistan’s victory quest after the home team’s top four all scored hundreds in the second Test here today.

Set a daunting 476 runs to win, Sri Lanka were tottering at 97/5 before Oshada and Niroshan Dickwella halted the slide with a resolute 104-run stand for the sixth wicket. But the last three overs of the day saw Dickwella fall for 65bowled while attempting a reverse sweep off spinner Haris Sohail and Dilruwan Perera caught behind off Naseen Shah for five.

At the close, Sri Lanka were 212/7 with Oshada at the crease and with the visitors needing an unlikely 264 runs for victory. Pakistan need just three wickets tomorrow to win the series their first at home since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka side resulted in international cricket being suspended in the country.

Pakistan earlier declared their second innings at lunch on 555/3 after Azhar Ali returned to form with 118 and Babar Azam struck 100 not out.