Fifties from Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis helped Sri Lanka reach 221-4 at lunch on day three of the opening Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

After resuming at 114-3, De Silva was on 87 after reaching his 21st half-century, while skipper Kusal Mendis was 21 not out, leaving the tourists still 213 runs behind Pakistan’s first innings 434-9 declared.

Sri Lanka lost just one wicket in the session as De Silva and Kamindu put on 91 for the fourth wicket, enjoying a stroke of fortune along the way.

De Silva, on 38, flashed at a Razaullah delivery but Saud Shakeel failed to hold on a sharp chance at slip.

De Silva took full advantage of the reprieve and has so far hit nine fours off 121 balls.

Kamindu completed his eighth Test fifty before edging off Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori to leave Sri Lanka 155-4.

Kamindu’s 58 came off 131 balls with eight fours.

Seamer Abbas (2-33) was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers while fellow quick Saqib Khan has taken 2-82 on his debut.

Pakistan had declared their first innings at 434-9 on Tuesday after building on their overnight score of 281-5.

Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93, while debutants Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas scored half-centuries to strengthen the hosts’ position.

In reply, Sri Lanka were 114-3 at the close of the second day, trailing Pakistan by 320 runs. Mohammad Abbas and debutant Saqib Khan took early wickets before Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with an unbeaten 49-run partnership.