Sri Lanka finished the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in a commanding position, with centuries from Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis taking the visitors to 404 for four at stumps in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan, who won the toss and elected to bat first, had posted 434 for nine declared in their first innings.
Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka led Sri Lanka’s bowling effort, claiming three wickets each.
In reply, Sri Lanka suffered an early setback, losing their first two wickets for just 12 runs. However, Kamindu Mendis and Lahiru Udara steadied the innings with a 53-run partnership for the third wicket.
Udara went on to score 42 before being dismissed, while Kamindu contributed 58. Dhananjaya de Silva then joined Kamindu to build a valuable 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
The major turning point came when captain Kusal Mendis joined Dhananjaya at the crease. The pair produced an outstanding unbeaten 249-run partnership for the fifth wicket, taking Sri Lanka to 404 for four at the close of play.
Dhananjaya brought up his 14th Test century and remained unbeaten on 167, while Kusal Mendis reached an unbeaten 117.
Their partnership also set a new record for Sri Lanka’s highest fifth-wicket stand in a Test match played in Pakistan.
Kusal Mendis further made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan Test captain to score a century in his first innings after taking over the captaincy.
At stumps on day three, Sri Lanka were just 30 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total, with six wickets still in hand.
