Tea Sri Lanka 348 for 4 (De Silva 141*, Kusal 90*, Kamindu 58, Abbas 2-52, Saqib 2-103) trail Pakistan 434 for 9 dec (Shakeel 93, Asitha 3-107, Madushanka 3-108) by 86 runs
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis flayed Pakistan's bowling attack after lunch on the third day to move Sri Lanka into a position of command in the first Test in Rawalpindi.
After a first session of cagey steel, the pair cut loose after de Silva completed his 14th Test hundred. Razaullah and Arafat Minhas were targeted as the wheels came off the Pakistan bowling attack, and the ideas ran dry. The new ball was taken, and negotiated with little trouble, and by the time tea was called, Kusal, too, had closed in on three figures, with Sri Lanka only 86 runs behind with six wickets left.
The priorities of the two batters shifted early in the second session. At first, they wanted to guard against a possible collapse with Sri Lanka well behind Pakistan's first innings effort, but soon realised there was little, bar Mohammad Abbas, to fear from the attack. De Silva had been regal throughout his innings, but once he skipped down the track and drilled Minhas for the boundary that brought up his century, Sri Lanka began to overpower the bowlers.
The six overs that followed produced 57 as first Kusal and then de Silva cut loose. Razaullah's inexperience and inaccuracy was preyed on by both, with the young fast bowler getting into a war of words with both batters, who were more than equipped to answer effectively with the bat. Minhas couldn't find much turn on this strip and didn't seem to be able to bring out his variations, and Kusal was especially prolific skipping down the track and hitting through the line against him.
It was a different side to de Silva that appeared in the morning alongside Kamindu Mendis. They built on the burgeoning fourth-wicket partnership that had begun to inch Sri Lanka out of trouble on the second evening, and shut Pakistan out in the first hour.
They looked largely comfortable, though Mohammad Abbas retained the ability to produce unplayable deliveries. One of those did for Lamindu shortly after his half-century, but with none of the other bowlers posing a similar threat and de Silva in fine form, Pakistan never looked like making more substantial inroads.
Save for an over of spin to change ends, Pakistan stuck with the seam bowlers early on, but Sri Lanka were judicious and patient in their shot selection. De Silva was quick to drive fuller balls back past the bowling while defending length, and Kamindu was strong through the off side. Both were especially respectful against Abbas, with Kamindu batting out a maiden one shy of his half-century, not looking to rush to the milestone.
His stay at the crease ended in a probing Abbas over where he was beaten on the outside edge a couple of times. Abbas went wider on the crease and finally got the tickle he was looking for from Kamindu's bat on the stroke of drinks, pumping his fists in celebration.
At that point, Pakistan had the opportunity to blast through the middle order. That didn't happen.
Not that Pakistan made it easy for themselves. Razaullah was erratic in his opening spell, but drew an edge from de Silva when he pushed with hard hands at a straight drive. It flew to Saud Shakeel at first slip at what was perfect catching height, only for it to pop back out.
It was a mistake de Silva ensured they would repent at leisure all afternoon.