Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis Put Sri Lanka in Control Against Pakistan
Dhananjaya de Silva marked his first Test since stepping down as Sri Lanka captain with a commanding unbeaten century, while new skipper Kusal Mendis answered with one of his own on a dramatic third day in Rawalpindi. Their unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 249 transformed Sri Lanka’s position against Pakistan, leaving the visitors just 30 runs behind at stumps in the first Test.
Sri Lanka finished Day 3 on 404 for four, replying to Pakistan’s 434 for nine declared. Dhananjaya was unbeaten on 167 and Kusal on 117, with Kamindu Mendis’ earlier 58 providing an important foundation. Pakistan claimed only one wicket during the day, and missed opportunities made the visitors’ recovery even more costly for the hosts.
Pakistan start with discipline, but chances go begging
Sri Lanka resumed at 131 for three, with Dhananjaya and Kamindu at the crease. Pakistan began with a disciplined approach, keeping the batters quiet and searching for movement from a surface that offered little consistent assistance. The occasional delivery lifted sharply, but sustained pressure was difficult to maintain.
Dhananjaya received a significant reprieve on 38 when Saud Shakeel failed to hold a straightforward chance at first slip. The missed opportunity proved pivotal. The former captain settled into his innings, while Kamindu continued to show the composure that has made him one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable young batters.
Kamindu brought up his half-century, but Mohammad Abbas eventually gave Pakistan a breakthrough. The veteran seamer found the edge and dismissed the left-hander for 58, ending a valuable stand and briefly offering the home side a chance to regain control.
That chance did not last. Dhananjaya began to counterattack against Razaullah, reaching his own fifty and putting pressure back on the bowlers. Kusal, meanwhile, had a less assured start. Razaullah beat him more than once, and Pakistan continued to probe for an opening. Yet the visitors’ captain survived, while another difficult opportunity went down when Azan Awais could not complete a chance at short leg off Dhananjaya.
Dhananjaya’s innings included a few more close calls. He narrowly kept one delivery from trickling onto his stumps, and Saqib Khan put down a demanding return chance. He also took a blow on the glove, but remained positive, using his feet and finding the boundary whenever Pakistan offered width or length. By lunch, he had moved to 87 and was firmly established.
Dhananjaya reaches a milestone as Sri Lanka accelerate
The second session belonged to Sri Lanka. With the ball older and offering limited help, the batters began to score more freely. Dhananjaya reached his 14th Test century by flicking Arafat Minhas through the mid-on region, a composed milestone that reflected both his patience and his ability to punish loose deliveries.
Kusal soon shifted gears. After working through a cautious opening, he launched a six and began to play with greater authority. A tense exchange with Razaullah added edge to the contest, but it did not disrupt the Sri Lankan captain. He continued to target the bowlers, including a cleanly struck six over Minhas, and brought up his fifty.
The scoring rate rose sharply as both batters capitalised on short bowling. At one stage, Sri Lanka collected 57 runs in six overs, an emphatic burst that changed the rhythm of the innings. The approach was especially timely with the second new ball approaching: rather than allowing Pakistan to dictate terms, Dhananjaya and Kusal made the fielding side defend the boundary.
Pakistan did find some swing with the new ball, but the pair negotiated the threat without losing a wicket. Their growing confidence was reflected in the way they rotated the strike, attacked overpitched deliveries and punished anything that sat up. Sri Lanka reached tea in a strong position, with the deficit shrinking and the pressure shifting onto the hosts.
Kusal completes his century as the stand passes 200
Kusal resumed after tea in the same attacking mood, opening the final session with a boundary. He then upper-cut Razaullah over the wicketkeeper to bring up a memorable hundred in his first Test as captain. The milestone gave Sri Lanka two unbeaten centurions at the crease and underlined the scale of the recovery.
The fifth-wicket partnership moved beyond 200, while Dhananjaya advanced past 150. Pakistan continued searching for a breakthrough, but the batters rarely allowed the bowlers to settle. Abbas came close when he induced a rare edge from Dhananjaya, only for the ball to fall short of Salman Agha at second slip. It was another reminder that Pakistan’s missed chances had shaped the day as much as Sri Lanka’s fluent strokeplay.
Razaullah generated an awkward delivery late in the session that kept low before rearing towards Kusal. The bowler followed it with a stare, but the moment did not lead to a wicket. Bad light eventually brought play to an early close, with only 12 overs possible in the final session. The interruption halted Sri Lanka’s momentum, but not before the visitors had taken a commanding position.
What the Rawalpindi Test could mean next
Sri Lanka’s immediate task is to erase the 30-run deficit and build a first-innings lead. With both set batters still at the crease, they have a clear opportunity to push beyond parity and put Pakistan under scoreboard pressure. For the hosts, an early breakthrough on Day 4 will be essential; removing either centurion could reopen the contest, while a prolonged partnership may leave their bowlers facing a long and tiring innings.
Any cricket prediction for the next day must account for the pitch, the light and the condition of the ball. Pakistan may hope that a fresh spell or changing conditions produce more movement, but Sri Lanka’s batters have shown they can manage both patience and acceleration. The game is not decided, yet the balance has shifted decisively towards the visitors after a day defined by missed chances, sustained concentration and two outstanding centuries.
Stumps, Day 3: Pakistan 434/9 declared; Sri Lanka 404/4. Sri Lanka trail by 30 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva 167 not out, Kusal Mendis 117 not out, Kamindu Mendis 58; Mohammad Abbas 2/64.
