Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis centuries take Sri Lanka to 404-4 at stumps in Rawalpindi

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis scored centuries to take Sri Lanka to 404-4 at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, leaving them within 30 runs of Pakistan's first-innings 434-9 declared.

De Silva remained unbeaten on 167, struck with 20 fours for his 14th Test hundred, while Kusal Mendis finished 117 not out, with 10 fours and four sixes as he marked his elevation to the Test captaincy. The pair put together an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 249, Sri Lanka's highest for that wicket against Pakistan; the previous mark of 207 was set by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009 when the tourists came under a terrorist attack.

Pakistan's bowling attack included debutants Arafat Minhas (0-92) and Saqib Khan (2-105), and Razaullah (0-127), who has played in only one Test, while Mohammad Abbas returned figures of 2-64. Pakistan's sole wicket on a day curtailed by fading light came in the first session when Abbas found the edge of Kamindu Mendis, who was dismissed for 58.

De Silva had resumed on 22 overnight with Sri Lanka 114-3 and was given a reprieve on 38 when Saud Shakeel spilled a regulation first-slip catch off a loose drive; it was the only chance the batters offered all day. De Silva reached his hundred off 151 balls with a boundary through mid-on off Minhas in the second session and maintained an aggressive approach even after Pakistan took the second new ball.

Kusal Mendis adopted a notably attacking approach, including two consecutive sixes off Minhas and a big six pulled off Razaullah over deep fine leg, and he raised his century off 152 balls with a ramped boundary over the wicketkeeper in the final session. Play ended with 23 overs still to be bowled.

“No. 4 batter Kamindu Mendis said after his knock of 58: “We need to get a good first-innings lead,” followed by: “Two set batsmen are at the crease and hopefully they'll play well tomorrow as well. “We haven't yet decided when we will declare, but we have to score more runs in the first session tomorrow. I feel maybe tomorrow evening or on the last day it (the wicket) might get good for spinners and there's something in it for the fast bowlers too.”

Kamindu Mendis's comments confirmed Sri Lanka have not set a declaration time and intend to add runs early on the fourth day, with the team focused on securing a first-innings advantage before deciding when to close their innings.