Resuming at 114-3, Sri Lanka added 107 runs during the morning session while losing only Kamindu, who departed for 58 after helping De Silva rebuild the innings.
De Silva was unbeaten on 87 from 121 deliveries, having struck nine boundaries, while captain Kusal Mendis was 21 not out at the interval. Sri Lanka remained 213 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434-9 declared.
The visitors had entered the day under pressure after losing three wickets on Tuesday, but De Silva and Kamindu responded with a patient fourth-wicket partnership worth 91 runs.
Their stand provided stability after an unsettled start to the innings and forced Pakistan’s bowlers to work hard for a breakthrough.
De Silva also benefited from an early reprieve. On 38, he attempted to drive a delivery from debutant Razaullah but edged the ball towards slip, where Saud Shakeel could not hold a sharp chance.
The Sri Lankan batter made the most of the opportunity, continuing to rotate the strike and punish loose deliveries as he moved towards his century.
Kamindu, meanwhile, reached his eighth Test half-century during the partnership. He scored 58 from 131 balls, including eight fours, before edging a delivery from Mohammad Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori.
His dismissal left Sri Lanka at 155-4, but De Silva and captain Kusal Mendis ensured Pakistan could not build on the breakthrough before the lunch interval.
Abbas was Pakistan’s most effective bowler during the innings, taking two wickets for 33 runs. Fellow fast bowler Saqib Khan, making his Test debut, had also claimed two wickets, although he had conceded 82 runs.
Pakistan had made an early impact when Sri Lanka began their reply on Tuesday. Opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara was dismissed for a duck, falling to Abbas after facing just seven deliveries.
Saqib then claimed his first international wicket by removing experienced batter Dinesh Chandimal for one from three balls. The dismissal left Sri Lanka struggling at 12-2 after 3.3 overs.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu subsequently rebuilt the innings, putting together a partnership that carried the visitors beyond 50 and eased the immediate pressure.
Saqib broke the stand by dismissing Udara for 42 from 52 deliveries. The batter struck seven boundaries before departing with Sri Lanka at 65-3 after 16.5 overs.
The recovery continued through the fourth-wicket partnership, with De Silva and Kamindu showing greater resistance against Pakistan’s pace attack.
Pakistan had earlier declared their first innings at 434-9 after 106.3 overs, building a substantial total through contributions from several batters.
Saud Shakeel was the leading scorer with 93 from 199 deliveries, hitting nine fours, while captain Babar Azam made a half-century from 58 balls, including seven boundaries.
Pakistan’s three debutants also made valuable contributions. Tayyab Arif scored 57 from 51 deliveries, including nine fours and a six, while Arafat Minhas made 52 from 72 balls, also striking nine fours and a six.
Mohammad Taha added 51 from 105 deliveries, with six boundaries. Wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori narrowly missed a half-century, finishing on 48 from 72 balls with two fours.
The contributions helped Pakistan post a commanding first-innings score and put pressure on Sri Lanka to produce a substantial response.
At 221-4, the visitors had made progress but still faced a sizeable deficit of 213 runs at lunch. De Silva’s unbeaten innings offered Sri Lanka a chance to continue their recovery, while Pakistan remained in search of the wickets needed to strengthen their position.
The afternoon session was expected to be important for both sides, with Sri Lanka aiming to build another substantial partnership and Pakistan looking to prevent the tourists from closing the gap.
