Centurions De Silva, Mendis foil Pakistan as Sri Lanka dig in

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis showed great staying power as both posted centuries to lift Sri Lanka to 404-4 on day three of the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2043497">first Test</a> against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.</p> <p>De Silva was unbeaten on a polished 167, while Mendis was 117 not out as the pair frustrated Pakistan in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 249, bringing Sri Lanka within 30 runs of the home team’s total of 434-9 declared.</p> <p>Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to score a century in his maiden Test as captain, after taking the reins from De Silva before this series.</p> <p>Their stand is a record for Sri Lanka against Pakistan, improving upon the 207 by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.</p> <p>De Silva, lucky to be dropped on 38 by Saud Shakeel off pacer Razaullah, took full advantage of the reprieve and has so far struck 20 boundaries in his 241-ball knock.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/11/111715538da3b8f.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/11/111715538da3b8f.webp' width='1200' height='720' srcset='https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2026/11/111715538da3b8f.webp 300w, https://i.dawn.com/medium/2026/11/111715538da3b8f.webp 500w, https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/11/111715538da3b8f.webp 1200w' sizes='(min-width: 1024px) 890px, 100vw' alt='Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot during the third day of the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 11, 2026. &mdash; AFP' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot during the third day of the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 11, 2026. — AFP</figcaption> </figure> <p>Mendis was more aggressive with four sixes and 10 boundaries as Sri Lanka added 290 in the day, before bad light ended play 15 minutes early.</p> <p>De Silva cracked a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas to complete his 14th Test hundred, fourth against Pakistan and second at the venue.</p> <p>Mendis brought up his 11th century with a ramp boundary off Razaullah.</p> <p>After a day of toil for Pakistan’s bowlers, Mohammad Abbas has figures of 2-64 while debutant Saqib Khan is 2-105.</p> <p>Sri Lanka lost just one wicket in the first session of the day’s play as De Silva and Kamindu Mendis put on a 90 for the fourth wicket, ensuring Sri Lanka built up from an overnight total of 114-3.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/11/1117155387ce478.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/11/1117155387ce478.webp' width='1200' height='720' srcset='https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2026/11/1117155387ce478.webp 300w, https://i.dawn.com/medium/2026/11/1117155387ce478.webp 500w, https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/11/1117155387ce478.webp 1200w' sizes='auto, (min-width: 1024px) 890px, 100vw' loading='lazy' alt='Pakistan&rsquo;s Arafat Minhas (R) delivers a ball as Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Dhananjaya de Silva (L) looks on during the third day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 11, 2026. &mdash; AFP' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Pakistan’s Arafat Minhas (R) delivers a ball as Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva (L) looks on during the third day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 11, 2026. — AFP</figcaption> </figure> <p>Kamindu completed his eighth Test fifty before edging Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori to leave Sri Lanka 155-4. His 58 came off 131 balls, peppered with eight fours.</p> <p>Pakistan had declared their first innings at <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2043497">434-9</a> on Tuesday after building on their overnight score of 281-5.</p> <p>Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93, while debutants Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas scored half-centuries to strengthen the hosts’ position.</p> <p>In reply, Sri Lanka were 114-3 at the close of the second day, trailing Pakistan by 320 runs. Mohammad Abbas and debutant Saqib Khan took early wickets before Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with an unbeaten 49-run partnership.</p> <p>The second Test is also in Rawalpindi starting November 17, having been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2043576/second-pakistan-sri-lanka-test-shifted-from-lahore-to-rawalpindi-over-smog">shifted from Lahore</a> due to poor weather.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.