Sri Lanka staged a strong fightback on day three of the first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Dhananjaya de Silva's unbeaten 141 and captain Kusal Mendis's 90 not out took the visitors to 348-4 in 90 overs, just 86 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings 434-9 declared.
De Silva, who resumed on 22, brought up his 14th Test century and has faced 207 balls with 16 fours. He was dropped on 38 when Saud Shakeel failed to hold a sharp chance at slip off Razaullah, and made Pakistan pay. Kusal Mendis struck seven fours and three sixes in 148 balls as the pair added an unbroken 193 for the fifth wicket.
Sri Lanka began the day on 114-3. Kamindu Mendis made 58 before edging Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, the only wicket to fall on the day. Abbas has been the most economical of Pakistan's bowlers with 2-33, while debutant Saqib Khan has also taken two wickets.
Pakistan had built their total on Saud Shakeel's 93 and half-centuries from Babar Azam, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas. With two days left, Pakistan's bowlers face the task of striking early on Thursday to regain control of the match.