Dhananjaya De Silva and Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis left interim head coach Mike Hesson scratching his head as they put an inexperienced bowling attack to the sword, bringing Sri Lanka within 30 runs of the home side on the third day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

De Silva was unbeaten on 167, his 14th Test century, after resuming on 22, and Kusal became the first Sri Lanka captain to take five catches and score a century (117 not out) in the same Test, as Sri Lanka closed at 404 for four after starting the day at 114 for three in reply to Pakistan’s 434 for nine declared.

The two batters joined forces at 155 for four after Kamindu Mendis, who resumed on 42, was dismissed for 58. They have added 249 runs from 365 balls for the unbroken fifth wicket, and Sri Lanka now trail by just 30 runs with six first-innings wickets intact.

De Silva, who reached his century from 151 balls with 12 fours, has faced 241 balls and struck 20 fours. He can thank Saud Shakeel, who dropped a regulation catch at first slip off Razaullah when he was on 38.

Kusal has faced 188 balls and struck 10 fours and four sixes, reaching his century from 152 balls with nine fours and three sixes.

The way De Silva and Kusal batted on what still looked like a surface with something for the fast bowlers clearly exposed Hesson’s strategy and pitch-reading, and the selectors’ poor team selection.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were not considered despite playing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and franchise cricket in the UAE, respectively. Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Ubaid Shah were dropped after the England tour, and Haris Rauf was overlooked despite expressing interest in red-ball cricket. In a shocking move, specialist left-arm spinner Ali Usman was released two days before the match.

Instead, Mohammad Abbas was tasked with leading an inexperienced attack that included debutants Saqib Khan and Arafat Minhas and Razaullah, who was playing his second Test. The outcome was not surprising, as Sri Lanka’s batters played with ease and confidence, as if in their backyard.

The bowlers lacked consistent pace and accuracy and were unable to penetrate. Having been ineffective with the first new ball, they fared little better with the second, taken at 311 for four. In the next 22 overs, Sri Lanka scored 93 runs without losing a wicket.

Abbas, Pakistan’s most experienced bowler, took two for 64 in 29 overs. Saqib failed to add to his two wickets from Tuesday and conceded 105 runs in 26 overs. Arafat was wicketless in 21 overs, which cost 92 runs, while Razaullah is still searching for his first Test wicket after conceding 127 runs in 23 overs. Salman Ali Agha bowled three overs for nine runs.

The situation is almost identical to the Pakistan v Bangladesh Test at the same venue two years ago. In reply to Pakistan’s 448 for six declared, Bangladesh ended the third day at 316 for five before being bowled out for 565. Pakistan were then bowled out for 146 in their second innings, and Bangladesh reached the 30-run target without loss.

The only difference is the weather. In this Test, 22.4 overs were lost on the opening day because of bad light and 23.4 on the second day, and 74.5 overs were bowled on the third.
If the over-rate remains the same on the last two days, which also have a rain forecast, the Test should end in a draw unless Pakistan once again bat as they did two years ago.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the second Test has been shifted from Lahore to Rawalpindi because of fog. This has raised questions about series scheduling and planning, as Karachi’s National Bank Stadium awaits its first first-class match of the 2026-27 season.

Scores in brief (day three of five):

Pakistan 434-9 dec., 106.3 overs (Saud Shakeel 93, Mohammad Tayyab Arif 57, Arafat Minhas 52, Mohammad Taha 51, Babar Azam 50, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori 48, Azan Awais 30; Asitha Fernando 3-107, Dilshan Madushanka 3-108)

Sri Lanka (overnight 114-3, 27.1 overs) 404-4, 102 overs (Dhananjaya De Silva 167 not out, Kusal Mendis 117 not out, Kamindu Mendis 58, Lahiru Udara 42; Mohammad Abbas 2-64, Saqib Khan 2-105)