De Silva leads Sri Lanka fightback on the third day of the first Test

Unbeaten 87 from Dhananjaya de Silva guides Sri Lanka to 221-4 at lunch against Pakistan

Dhananjaya de Silva struck an unbeaten 87 to lead Sri Lanka's recovery against Pakistan on the third day of the first test on Wednesday, guiding the tourists to 221-4 at lunch after they resumed on 114-3.

Sri Lanka, replying to Pakistan's first-innings total of 434-9 declared, lost Kamindu Mendis for 58 in the morning session but de Silva stood firm to keep the visitors in the contest at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Kamindu, who was unbeaten on 40 overnight, added 18 runs to his score before falling to Mohammad Abbas, caught by wicket-keeper Ghazi Ghori, ending a fourth-wicket partnership that had helped Sri Lanka recover from a shaky start.

De Silva, who resumed on 22, continued to build his innings with measured aggression, reaching his half-century off 67 balls. He struck nine boundaries in an unbeaten 86 from 121 deliveries.

Captain Kusal Mendis provided support at the other end, reaching 21 not out from 52 balls as the pair added an unbroken 66 runs for the fifth wicket.

Sri Lanka had endured a difficult opening to their innings on Tuesday, losing Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Dinesh Chandimal cheaply before Lahiru Udara and Kamindu helped restore some stability.

Udara made 42 before becoming Saqib's second victim, caught behind by Ghori, while Kamindu and de Silva subsequently combined in a 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan's fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Saqib Khan shared the four wickets to fall, taking two apiece.

Abbas was particularly economical, conceding 33 runs from 17 overs, including eight maidens.

Pakistan had declared their first innings at 434-9 after Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93, while Arafat Minhas and Mohammad Taha contributed 52 and 51 respectively. Babar Azam and Tayyab Arif also scored half-centuries.

Sri Lanka now trail by 213 runs, with six wickets remaining and the opportunity to narrow the deficit further through the afternoon session.