RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Sri Lanka reached 237-4 in 67.3 overs in their first innings against Pakistan on the third day of the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, trailing the hosts by 197 runs.
Dhananjaya de Silva remained unbeaten on 93 off 144 deliveries, while Kusal Mendis was not out on 30 off 75 balls as the visitors continued to recover from an early collapse.
Sri Lanka had resumed their first innings at 114-3 after reaching that score in 27.1 overs at stumps on the second day. The visitors had lost three wickets early before De Silva and Mendis steadied the innings.
Mohammad Abbas provided Pakistan with an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck. Debutant Saqib Khan then claimed his maiden international wicket, removing Dinesh Chandimal for one and leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 12-2.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with a partnership that took Sri Lanka past the 50-run mark. However, Saqib struck again, dismissing Udara for 42 off 52 balls, including seven boundaries, to reduce the visitors to 65-3.
Dhananjaya de Silva joined Mendis, and the pair built an unbeaten partnership to take Sri Lanka beyond 100. Mendis was unbeaten on 40, while De Silva had scored 22 when bad light brought an early end to play on the second day.
The partnership continued on the third day, with De Silva moving closer to his century as Sri Lanka reached 237-4 in 67.3 overs at the latest update.
Earlier, Pakistan declared their first innings at 434-9 after 106.3 overs, with five batters, including three debutants, scoring half-centuries.
Resuming their innings on the second day, Saud Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori added 96 runs for the sixth wicket to take Pakistan beyond 300. Dilshan Madushanka broke the partnership by dismissing Ghori for 48 off 72 balls, leaving the hosts at 349-6.
Shakeel continued to anchor the innings with Arafat Minhas, who contributed to a 44-run stand for the seventh wicket. Asitha Fernando dismissed Shakeel for 93 off 199 deliveries, including nine boundaries, when Pakistan reached 393-7.
Minhas and Razaullah helped Pakistan cross the 400-run mark, with Minhas scoring his maiden Test half-century. He made 52 off 72 balls, including nine boundaries and a six, before falling to Madushanka. Lahiru Kumara then dismissed Razaullah for 10 before Pakistan captain Babar Azam declared the innings.
Madushanka and Fernando took three wickets each, while Kumara, Milan Rathnayake and Sonal Dinusha claimed one wicket apiece.
On the opening day, Pakistan's innings was built around an 86-run partnership between openers Azan Awais and debutant Tayyab Arif. Azan scored 30 off 50 balls, while Tayyab made 57 off 51 deliveries.
Babar Azam and another debutant, Mohammad Taha, added 69 runs for the third wicket. Babar scored 50 off 58 balls before being dismissed by Madushanka, while Taha made 51 off 105 deliveries for his maiden Test half-century.
Sonal Dinusha removed Taha at 227-4, while Salman Ali Agha contributed 16 before falling to Fernando. Shakeel then strengthened Pakistan's position with his 12th Test half-century before finishing seven runs short of a century.