Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva struck magnificent centuries as Sri Lanka reached 404/4 at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today (11th November), trailing by just 30 runs.
Sri Lanka resumed Day 3 on 114/3, with Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva unbeaten at the crease. The pair began cautiously before gradually increasing the scoring rate to keep Sri Lanka firmly in contention.
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De Silva was handed a reprieve when Saud Shakeel failed to hold on to a chance at first slip, allowing the experienced batter to continue his impressive innings.
Kamindu Mendis went on to bring up a valuable half-century but was soon dismissed by a brilliant delivery from Mohammad Abbas, ending his promising knock.
Following Kamindu’s dismissal, skipper Kusal Mendis joined De Silva at the crease, and the pair produced a magnificent batting display to take control of the contest.
The duo stitched together an unbeaten 249-run partnership for the fifth wicket, putting Pakistan’s bowling attack under tremendous pressure.
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De Silva went on to register his 14th Test century and remained unbeaten on 167, while Kusal Mendis marked his first innings as Test captain with a historic hundred, bringing up his 11th Test century and remaining unbeaten on 117. With this achievement, Kusal Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to score a century in his debut innings as Test captain.
Sri Lanka finished Day 3 on 404/4, trailing Pakistan’s first-innings total by just 30 runs, with six wickets in hand and the momentum firmly on their side.
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