Dhananjaya de Silva stood firm for Sri Lanka on the third morning of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, reaching an unbeaten 87 as the visitors went to lunch on 221 for four, still 213 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings total.

Sri Lanka resumed on 114 for three and lost Kamindu Mendis for 58 shortly after he reached his half-century, but Dhananjaya and captain Kusal Mendis then added an unbroken 66 runs for the fifth wicket to take their side past 200 and keep the match in the balance.

Pakistan made to wait for wickets

Pakistan had declared their first innings on 434 for nine, built around Saud Shakeel's 93, and their bowlers started the day looking for the breakthroughs that would open up a large first-innings lead. Mohammad Abbas provided the one success of the morning, removing Kamindu Mendis, and finished the session with two for 33, while Saqib Khan also had two for 82.

Abbas was the bowler Sri Lanka treated with the most respect. Kamindu Mendis played out a maiden over one run short of his fifty, and Abbas eventually found the edge he had been probing for, with the wicket falling on the stroke of drinks. The dismissal ended a 90-run fourth-wicket stand that had begun to pull Sri Lanka out of trouble on the second evening.

Pakistan had one clear chance to break the new partnership. Razaullah drew an edge from Dhananjaya when the batter pushed at a straight drive, but the ball popped out of Saud Shakeel's hands at first slip at catching height. Dhananjaya and Kusal Mendis gave no further chances in the rest of the extended session.

Dhananjaya reaches another fifty

Dhananjaya brought up his 21st Test half-century as he guided Sri Lanka past 200 in the 54th over, mixing careful defence against Abbas with drives back past the bowlers when they overpitched. Kusal Mendis, unbeaten on 21 at the interval, played the supporting role in a stand that has now passed 50.

Pakistan's first innings had featured half-centuries from five batters, including three on Test debut, with Babar Azam also making 50 before Asitha Fernando took three for 107. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the match runs from 9 to 13 November.

Sri Lanka still need 13 more runs to pass the follow-on mark of 234, and with two sessions left on the third day the direction of the match remains open. Pakistan will want early wickets after lunch to keep their lead intact, while Sri Lanka will look to Dhananjaya to turn his unbeaten 87 into a hundred and drag his side closer to parity. ESPNcricinfo reported the lunch score as Sri Lanka 221 for four, and Geo Super also carried the day-three lunch update from Rawalpindi.