Centurions De Silva and Mendis Frustrate Pakistan as Sri Lanka Fight Back

Rawalpindi – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Centurions De Silva and Kusal Mendis gave Sri Lanka a commanding day three in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. Sri Lanka ended the day on 404-4, only 30 runs short of Pakistan’s 434-9 declared.

Dhananjaya de Silva stayed unbeaten on a polished 167 off 241 balls. He hit 20 boundaries along the way.

Kusal Mendis was not out on 117. He played more freely, with four sixes and 10 fours.

Together, the pair added an unbroken 249 for the fifth wicket. It is a new record for Sri Lanka against Pakistan, beating the 207 by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.

Mendis also made history. He became the first Sri Lankan to score a century in his first Test as captain, having taken over the job from De Silva before this series.

De Silva got a lucky break on 38 when Saud Shakeel dropped him off pacer Razaullah. He made the most of it. He reached his 14th Test hundred with a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas. It was his fourth century against Pakistan and his second at this ground.

Mendis reached his 11th Test century with a ramp shot for four off Razaullah.

The day began with Sri Lanka on 114-3. De Silva and Kamindu Mendis added 90 for the fourth wicket before Kamindu fell. He made 58 off 131 balls, with eight fours, and edged Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori.

It was a tough day for Pakistan’s bowlers. Abbas finished with 2-64, while debutant Saqib Khan took 2-105. Bad light stopped play 15 minutes early.

Sri Lanka scored 290 runs in the day. They now hold a strong position in the match.

Pakistan had earlier declared on 434-9. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93, and debutants Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas all hit half-centuries.

The second Test will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting November 17. It was moved from Lahore because of smog.