Asitha Fernando bowling to Babar Azam, Colombo, July 2023. Photo: Nazly Ahmed via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Day 3: De Silva and Kusal Mendis Hit Centuries as Sri Lanka Fight Back in Rawalpindi

November 11, 2026 Faizan Altaf

Sri Lanka turned the first Test against Pakistan on its head on day three in Rawalpindi. Dhananjaya de Silva and captain Kusal Mendis both scored centuries in an unbroken stand of 249 runs, lifting the visitors to 404 for 4 at stumps on Wednesday, 11 November 2026 — just 30 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434 for 9 declared.

It was a day of total control for the tourists. Sri Lanka added 290 runs and lost only one wicket across the day’s play, which ended 15 minutes early because of bad light. After two days in which Pakistan had looked the stronger side, the home team now faces a real fight to avoid falling behind in the match.

A day that belonged to Sri Lanka

Pakistan began the day in a strong position. Sri Lanka had closed day two on 114 for 3, still 320 runs behind, after debutant fast bowler Saqib Khan struck twice late on Tuesday. The home side would have hoped for quick wickets in the morning. Instead, they got a long, fruitless day in the field.

De Silva and Kamindu Mendis started the day watchfully. They played with patience and good judgment, adding 90 runs for the fourth wicket and slowly eating into Pakistan’s lead. Mohammad Abbas, Pakistan’s most experienced fast bowler, still looked dangerous at times. He produced the odd ball that no batter could play. But the rest of the attack offered little threat, and Sri Lanka grew in confidence as the morning wore on.

Kamindu Mendis reached his eighth Test fifty before Abbas finally found his edge, with wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori taking the catch. Kamindu made 58 from 131 balls, with eight fours. At 155 for 4, Pakistan had their opening. It was the last wicket they would take all day.

The record stand

What followed was one of the great partnerships in Sri Lanka’s Test history against Pakistan. De Silva and Kusal Mendis, the old captain and the new one, batted together for the rest of the day without being separated.

Kusal took over the Sri Lanka captaincy from de Silva before this series. On his first day as captain in a Test match, he made history. His century made him the first Sri Lankan ever to score a hundred on his Test captaincy debut. He finished the day unbeaten on 117, having hit four sixes and ten fours. He reached his fifty with a six over the sightscreen and brought up his hundred with a ramp shot over the wicketkeeper’s head — a shot he repeated for six in the very next over.

De Silva was just as impressive, if less flashy. He batted through the whole day and finished unbeaten on 167 from 241 balls, with 20 fours. It was his 14th Test century, his fourth against Pakistan, and his second at the Rawalpindi ground. He reached his hundred by dancing down the pitch and driving spinner Arafat Minhas for four, and he never looked back from there.

Together, the pair put on 249 runs without losing a wicket. It is a record stand for Sri Lanka against Pakistan, beating the 207 made by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.

The dropped catch that changed the day

Pakistan will look back on one moment with real regret. Early in the morning, when de Silva was on 38, young fast bowler Razaullah found his outside edge. The ball flew to Saud Shakeel at slip at the perfect catching height. Shakeel got both hands to it — and dropped it.

It was a costly miss. De Silva went on to add 129 more runs after that chance, and Pakistan spent the rest of the day paying for it. Razaullah, only 21 years old, was targeted by both batters once they were set. The six overs after de Silva’s hundred produced 57 runs as the pair cut loose, and the young bowler was even drawn into a war of words with the batters — a battle he lost with the bat doing the talking.

The rest of the attack fared little better. Abbas, who had been Pakistan’s best bowler, had a rare poor spell with the new ball. Arafat Minhas found little turn from the pitch and did not use his variations enough. Kusal, in particular, was quick to skip down the pitch and hit through the line against the spin. By the end of the day, Abbas had figures of 2 for 64 and Saqib Khan 2 for 105.

How the match got here

To understand how big this fightback was, it helps to remember where the match stood after two days. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first, and for two days that decision looked like a mistake.

Pakistan reached 281 for 5 on the first day, with debutants making an immediate impact in a new-look side. On day two, the home team pushed on to a strong total. Saud Shakeel fell seven runs short of a century with 93, and three debutants scored fifties, including Arafat Minhas and Ghazi Ghori. Captain Babar Azam declared at 434 for 9 after 106.3 overs.

Then Pakistan’s bowlers struck quickly. Abbas removed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck in the third over. Saqib Khan, on debut, took his first Test wicket by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for one. When Sri Lanka slipped to 65 for 3, the match looked like it was heading one way only.

But Test cricket is a five-day game, and Sri Lanka’s lower middle order showed on day three why it is dangerous to write a team off too early. De Silva and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings on the second evening, and on day three the visitors took complete control.

What the numbers say

The scoreboard at the end of day three tells the story of the match so far:

Pakistan, first innings: 434 for 9 declared (106.3 overs). Saud Shakeel 93. Asitha Fernando 3 for 107, Dilshan Madushanka 3 for 108.
Sri Lanka, first innings: 404 for 4. Dhananjaya de Silva 167 not out, Kusal Mendis 117 not out, Kamindu Mendis 58. Mohammad Abbas 2 for 64, Saqib Khan 2 for 105.
Sri Lanka trail by 30 runs with six wickets still in hand.

One number matters more than most: Sri Lanka lost just one wicket all day while scoring 290 runs. In a Test match, that kind of dominance over a full day is rare, and it changes the balance of the game completely.

What happens next

The match now hangs in the balance with two days left. Sri Lanka will come out on day four looking to build a first-innings lead. With six wickets in hand and two set batters at the crease, they will believe they can push well past Pakistan’s total and put real pressure on the home side.

Pakistan, meanwhile, need early wickets on the morning of day four. If they can break this partnership quickly, they can still limit the damage. But if de Silva and Kusal continue where they left off, Pakistan could find themselves batting last on a pitch that is flattening out — and chasing a difficult target.

The pitch itself is a big part of the story. It offered help to the fast bowlers early on, but it has become easier to bat on as the match has gone on. That is good news for Sri Lanka’s batters now, and it could be bad news for Pakistan if they have to bat last.

There is also the wider series to think about. The second Test will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting on 17 November. It was moved from Lahore because of poor weather and heavy smog in the city. You can read more about that decision in our report on the second Test being shifted to Rawalpindi.

For now, though, all eyes are on day four. After a day when Sri Lanka scored 290 runs for the loss of one wicket, Pakistan need a response — and they need it fast.

Frequently asked questions

Who scored centuries for Sri Lanka on day three?

Dhananjaya de Silva finished unbeaten on 167, and captain Kusal Mendis was unbeaten on 117. It was de Silva’s 14th Test hundred and Kusal Mendis’s 11th.

What record did Kusal Mendis set?

Kusal Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to score a century on his Test captaincy debut. He took over the captaincy from Dhananjaya de Silva before this series.

What is the score in the first Test?

At stumps on day three, Sri Lanka were 404 for 4 in their first innings, trailing Pakistan’s 434 for 9 declared by 30 runs, with six wickets in hand.

What was the record partnership?

De Silva and Kusal Mendis put on an unbroken 249 runs for the fifth wicket. It is the highest stand by Sri Lanka against Pakistan, beating the 207 made by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.

When and where is the second Test?

The second Test starts on 17 November 2026, also in Rawalpindi. It was moved from Lahore because of poor weather and smog.

Conclusion

Day three in Rawalpindi was a reminder of why Test cricket is the longest and most unpredictable form of the game. Pakistan dominated the first two days, declared on a big total, and reduced Sri Lanka to 114 for 3. Then Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis batted for an entire day, scored two centuries, and set a record partnership that has put Sri Lanka on top.

The dropped catch of de Silva on 38 will haunt Pakistan, but the truth is that Sri Lanka earned their position. They batted with patience in the morning, then attacked with confidence in the afternoon. Now they are 30 runs behind with six wickets left, and the match is theirs to shape.

Two days remain, and the first Test is wide open. Pakistan need early wickets on day four. Sri Lanka need to keep doing what they did on day three. Either way, this match has already given fans a day to remember.

Sources

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

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