Key points
- Sri Lanka advanced to 221-4 by the lunch break on the third day of the first Test in Rawalpindi, according to Business Recorder.
- Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis contributed crucial half-centuries, forming a 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
- Pakistan bowler Mohammad Abbas and debutant Saqib Khan claimed two wickets each during the innings.
Resuming at 114-3 on Wednesday, Sri Lanka navigated the morning session in Rawalpindi with the loss of just a single wicket, leaving them 213 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings total of 434-9 declared, Business Recorder reported.
Key Details
According to Business Recorder, Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 21 alongside Dhananjaya de Silva, who was batting on 87 after securing his 21st Test half-century. De Silva benefited from an early reprieve when Saud Shakeel dropped a sharp chance at slip off Razaullah's bowling when the batsman was on 38, going on to hit nine fours from 121 balls. Kamindu Mendis added his eighth Test fifty, scoring 58 runs from 131 deliveries with eight boundaries before edging a delivery from seamer Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, reducing the tourists to 155-4. Abbas finished with figures of 2-33 as the standout bowler for Pakistan, while debutant fast bowler Saqib Khan claimed 2-82, Business Recorder reported.
Context and Impact
This match forms part of the ongoing Test series hosted in Rawalpindi, testing the depth and resilience of both bowling and batting lineups in traditional red-ball cricket.
Summary and What Next
Play continued through the third day with Sri Lanka working to close the substantial deficit established by Pakistan's imposing first-innings declaration.