In Rawalpindi, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis demonstrated remarkable resilience, each scoring centuries to bring Sri Lanka to 404 for 4 on the third day of the opening Test against Pakistan.
De Silva remained unbeaten on a polished 167, while Mendis contributed an unbeaten 117. Their unbroken fifth‑wicket stand of 249 frustrated Pakistan and moved Sri Lanka within 30 runs of the hosts’ 434 for 9 declared total.
Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to register a century on his debut as Test captain, succeeding De Silva in the role for this series.
The partnership set a new Sri Lankan record against Pakistan, surpassing the previous best of 207 between Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.
De Silva, who was given a reprieve when Saud Shakeel dropped him at 38 off the bowling of pacer Razaullah, capitalised on the chance, hitting 20 boundaries during his 241‑ball innings.
Mendis played more aggressively, smashing four sixes and 10 boundaries, as Sri Lanka amassed 290 runs before bad light forced an early 15‑minute halt to play.
De Silva reached his 14th Test century by driving a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas, marking his fourth hundred against Pakistan and his second at this venue.
Mendis completed his 11th century with a ramp shot for a boundary off Razaullah.
Following a grueling day for Pakistan’s bowlers, Mohammad Abbas recorded figures of 2 for 64, while debutant Saqib Khan took 2 for 105.
Sri Lanka lost only one wicket in the morning session as De Silva and Kamindu Mendis added 90 for the fourth wicket, extending their total from the overnight 114 for 3.
Kamindu reached his eighth Test half‑century before edging Abbas to the wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, leaving Sri Lanka 155 for 4.
Kamindu’s 58 came off 131 deliveries and included eight fours.
The second Test will also be staged in Rawalpindi, commencing on November 17 after being moved from Lahore because of adverse weather.
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