De Silva 167 Not Out Puts Sri Lanka 404 for 4, 30 Behind Pakistan

Sri Lanka closed the third day of the first Test in Rawalpindi at 404 for 4, just 30 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total of 434 for 9 declared, after Dhananjaya de Silva and captain Kusal Mendis batted through most of the day in an unbroken stand of 249 runs for the fifth wicket.

De Silva finished unbeaten on 167 from 241 balls, with 20 fours, six runs short of his career best score. Kusal Mendis was not out on 117 from 188 balls, with 10 fours and four sixes, his 11th Test century. Bad light ended play early with Sri Lanka 30 runs from taking the lead and six wickets in hand.

A day that belonged to two batters

Sri Lanka resumed at 114 for 3, still 320 runs behind. The morning brought Pakistan its only wicket of the day. Kamindu Mendis, who had rebuilt the innings with De Silva the previous evening, reached 58 before he edged Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori. Sri Lanka were 155 for 4 at that point, and Pakistan still held a clear advantage.

From there, the day slowed down and then turned. De Silva and Kusal Mendis added 107 runs in the first session and reached lunch at 221 for 4. They scored 127 runs without loss in the second session to reach tea at 348 for 4. De Silva brought up his 14th Test century on the way, and Kusal Mendis moved from 21 at lunch to 90 at tea. The third session added 56 more runs in 12 overs before the umpires took the players off for bad light.

Pakistan used six bowlers and took one wicket in 102 overs across the full day. Mohammad Abbas finished with 2 for 64 and debutant Saqib Khan with 2 for 105, but neither could break the fifth wicket pair once it settled.

The context

Pakistan's 434 for 9 declared was built on Saud Shakeel's 93, with Asitha Fernando taking 3 for 107 and Dilshan Madushanka 3 for 108 for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka then slipped to 65 for 3 on the second day before the recovery began. De Silva, playing his first Test since giving up the captaincy, walked in with the innings in trouble and will walk back in on Thursday morning with his side close to a first innings lead.

Key numbers

Pakistan made 434 for 9 declared in 106.3 overs. Sri Lanka are 404 for 4 in 102 overs. The unbroken fifth wicket stand is worth 249 runs. De Silva has faced 241 balls and Kusal Mendis 188. Sri Lanka added 290 runs on day three and lost one wicket. The match is the first of the series, with two days left to play.

What happens next

Day four starts with Sri Lanka needing 30 runs to move ahead, and the size of any lead depends on how long the fifth wicket pair survives the morning. Pakistan need early wickets with a ball that is 102 overs old in match terms but still the one in use, and then need to bat well enough in their second innings to set a target. A Sri Lanka lead of any size changes the pressure in this match, because Pakistan would then have to force the pace on a pitch that has so far rewarded patience.

For readers following in Nepal and India, this was the most searched cricket story of the day, and day four is now set up as the decisive day of the Test.