Sri Lanka Resume at 114-3 Against Pakistan as Day 3 Begins in Rawalpindi Test
Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva return to the crease as the visitors try to rebuild after a shaky second day.
Paksitan vs Sri Lanka – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Sri Lanka began day three of the first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 114-3. They still trail the hosts by 320 runs.
Overnight batters Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva walked out to continue their stand. Mendis was unbeaten on 40, while de Silva had 22.
The visitors had a rough start on day two. Mohammad Abbas dismissed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck.
Debutant Saqib Khan then removed Dinesh Chandimal for just one run. Sri Lanka were suddenly 12-2.
Lahiru Udara and Mendis steadied the innings with a useful 50-run partnership. Udara hit seven boundaries in his 42 off 52 balls.
Saqib struck again to remove Udara and leave Sri Lanka on 65-3. De Silva then joined Mendis, and the pair added an unbeaten 50 before bad light ended play.
Pakistan had set up this lead earlier by declaring on 434-9 after 106.3 overs. Five batters made fifties, including three debutants.
Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 and missed a century by seven runs. Arafat Minhas added a maiden Test fifty late on.
Azan Awais and debutant Tayyab Arif gave Pakistan a good start with 86 runs for the first wicket. Babar Azam and Mohammad Taha then added half-centuries in the middle order.
Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets each for Sri Lanka. Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake and Sonal Dinusha also bowled hard in a long spell in the field.
Sri Lanka now need 121 more runs to avoid the follow-on. Pakistan’s bowlers will look for early wickets to stay in control.
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