Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis both scored centuries to frustrate Pakistan and lift Sri Lanka to 404-4 at stumps on the third day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The visiting pair combined in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 249 runs, bringing Sri Lanka within thirty runs of Pakistan's first-innings total of 434-9 declared.
De Silva remained unbeaten on a polished 167 runs off 241 balls, striking 20 boundaries, while captain Mendis was not out on 117 after hitting four sixes and 10 boundaries. The stand set a new record for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in Test cricket, surpassing the previous mark of 207 set by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.
Mendis achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a century in his maiden Test as captain, having taken over the leadership from De Silva before the series. De Silva capitalized significantly on an early reprieve when he was dropped on 38 by Saud Shakeel off the bowling of fast bowler Razaullah.
De Silva reached his 14th Test century, his fourth against Pakistan and second at the venue, by hitting a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas. Mendis brought up his 11th Test hundred by executing a ramp boundary off Razaullah before bad light brought an early end to proceedings with 15 minutes remaining in the day.
Sri Lanka had resumed their innings from an overnight score of 114-3 and lost only one wicket during the opening session of the day. De Silva and Kamindu Mendis shared a crucial 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket to stabilize the innings.
Kamindu completed his eighth Test half-century before edging a delivery from Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, departing for 58 runs from 131 balls with eight boundaries. His dismissal left Sri Lanka at 155-4 before the massive recovery led by De Silva and Kusal Mendis.
For the Pakistan bowling attack, Abbas finished the day with figures of 2-64, while debutant Saqib Khan claimed 2-105 through a demanding day on the field. Sri Lanka added 290 runs across the day's play against an inexperienced Pakistan bowling lineup.
The second Test of the series is scheduled to begin on November 17, having been relocated to Rawalpindi from Lahore due to prevailing poor weather conditions.
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