RAWALPINDI: Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis struck unbeaten centuries to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday, guiding the visitors to 404-4 at stumps, just 30 runs behind the hosts’ first-innings total.
The former and current Sri Lankan captains joined forces to frustrate Pakistan’s bowlers with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 249, leaving their side with six wickets in hand and the prospect of taking a substantial lead when play resumes on Thursday.
De Silva was unbeaten on 167 from 241 balls, having struck 20 boundaries, while Mendis remained on 117 after facing 188 deliveries and hitting 10 fours and four sixes.
Their partnership, which began in the 42nd over, is Sri Lanka’s highest for any wicket against Pakistan, surpassing the 207-run effort by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.
Sri Lanka added 290 runs during the day, losing only Kamindu Mendis, as Pakistan endured a long and largely unproductive spell in the field.
Play ended 15 minutes early because of bad light.
The visitors had resumed at 114-3, with De Silva and Kamindu looking to consolidate after the loss of three early wickets on the second day.
The pair added 90 for the fourth wicket before Mohammad Abbas provided Pakistan with their only breakthrough of the day.
Kamindu, who had completed his eighth Test half-century, edged Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori for 58.His 131-ball innings included eight fours and took Sri Lanka to 155-4.
That proved to be Pakistan’s last success.
De Silva and Kusal settled into a measured approach, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries before gradually taking control of the contest.
De Silva reached his 14th Test century, his fourth against Pakistan and second at the Rawalpindi venue, with a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas in the second session.
He brought up the milestone from 151 balls, having earlier survived a costly reprieve.
On 38, De Silva edged Razaullah towards first slip, where Saud Shakeel failed to hold a straightforward chance.
The missed opportunity proved expensive as the batter went on to play a commanding innings, keeping the Pakistan attack at bay for the remainder of the day.
Kusal, meanwhile, became 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.
He brought up his 11th Test hundred with a boundary off Razaullah, using his feet confidently and showing particular enterprise against the spinners.
The pair accelerated after reaching their hundreds, putting pressure on Pakistan’s inexperienced bowlers.
Kusal was especially effective against Arafat, while both batters targeted Razaullah, who struggled to contain the scoring.
A new ball also failed to produce the breakthrough Pakistan needed.By the close, Abbas had taken two wickets for 64 runs, while debutant Saqib Khan had figures of 2-105.
Razaullah conceded 127 runs without taking a wicket, and Arafat gave away 92 in 21 overs.
Abbas acknowledged that Pakistan had been outplayed by the experienced Sri Lankan pair, despite the bowlers’ efforts.
“We put up a lot of effort but credit to the Sri Lankan pair for batting so confidently,” he said at the post-day press conference.
” The Pakistan pacer, however, insisted that the pitch was not entirely in favour of the batters and could still reward disciplined bowling.“It is a good pitch.
It is supporting both sides.If there is even a slightly bad ball, there are runs on offer, and they played well.
But if we bowl in the right areas, we can get support from the surface as well,” he said.
Abbas also said he had been sharing his experience with the two young debutants in Pakistan’s attack, explaining that regular discussions during practice and matches were helping them develop.
Kamindu said Sri Lanka were in a strong position but had not yet decided what would constitute a satisfactory first-innings total.
“We haven’t talked about it yet, but we need to get a good lead first.We have two good, set batters at the crease, and hopefully they will play well tomorrow as well.
If we get a good lead, we will go to the next step,” he said.
He described Thursday’s opening session as important for both sides and said Sri Lanka’s immediate plan was to bat for as long as possible.“Our plan is to bat long.
If we can score more runs in the first session, I think it will put us in a good position,” he said.
Kamindu also felt the pitch could continue to assist fast bowlers, although spin might become more influential later in the match.
“The wicket is good for fast bowlers so far, but maybe tomorrow evening or on the last day it might be good for spinners.I can’t say that 100 per cent,” he said.
With rain forecast for Thursday afternoon, the morning session could prove particularly important.
Sri Lanka will first look to erase the remaining deficit and then build a lead that gives them control of the match, while Pakistan need early wickets to prevent the visitors from moving out of reach.
The second Test, originally scheduled for Lahore, has also been shifted to Rawalpindi because of smog and will begin on Nov 17.SRI LANKA (1st Innings, overnight 114-3): L.
Udara c Ghazi b Saqib42 P.Sooriyabandara c Ghazi b Abbas 0 D.D.Mendis C Ghazi b Abbas58 D.de Silva not out167 K.
Mendis not out117 EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, NB-10, W-2)19 TOTAL (for four wickets, 102 overs)404 STILL TO BAT: S.Dinusha, M.Rathnayaka, L.Kumara, A.Fernando, D.D.
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