Pakistan had declared their first innings at 434-9 on Tuesday after resuming the day at 281-5.

RAWALPINDI: Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis struck impressive centuries to put Sri Lanka in a strong position against Pakistan on the third day of the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

De Silva remained unbeaten on 167, while Mendis was not out on 117 as the pair shared an unbroken 249-run fifth-wicket partnership to take Sri Lanka to 404-4 at stumps.

The visitors were just 30 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434-9 declared.

Mendis also became the first Sri Lankan batter to score a century in his maiden Test as captain after taking over the leadership from De Silva ahead of the series.

The partnership established a new Sri Lankan record for the highest fifth-wicket stand against Pakistan, surpassing the previous mark of 207 runs set by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.

De Silva made the most of a missed opportunity when Saud Shakeel dropped him on 38 off pacer Razaullah. He went on to face 241 deliveries, hitting 20 boundaries in his unbeaten innings.

Mendis adopted a more aggressive approach, striking four sixes and 10 fours during his knock.

De Silva completed his 14th Test century, fourth against Pakistan and second at the Rawalpindi venue, with a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas.

Mendis reached his 11th Test hundred with a ramped boundary against Razaullah.

The Sri Lankan batters added 290 runs during the day before bad light forced play to end 15 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Kamindu Mendis Provides Strong Support

Sri Lanka lost just one wicket during the first session as De Silva and Kamindu Mendis built a 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Kamindu completed his eighth Test half-century before edging Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori.

His 58-run innings came off 131 deliveries and included eight boundaries, leaving Sri Lanka at 155-4.

Pakistan’s bowlers endured a difficult day, with Mohammad Abbas finishing with figures of 2-64 and debutant Saqib Khan taking 2-105.

Pakistan Post 434-9 in First Innings

Pakistan had declared their first innings at 434-9 on Tuesday after resuming the day at 281-5.

Saud Shakeel was the hosts’ leading scorer with 93, while debutants Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas contributed half-centuries.

In reply, Sri Lanka had reached 114-3 at the end of the second day, trailing Pakistan by 320 runs.

Mohammad Abbas and debutant Saqib Khan had taken early wickets before De Silva and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with an unbeaten 49-run partnership.

The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will also be played in Rawalpindi from November 17 after the venue was shifted from Lahore due to smog and poor weather conditions.