Pakistan and Sri Lanka played out a draw in the weather-hit opening Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday after the hosts declared their second innings at 284-8, extending their overall lead to 272 runs.
Experienced batter Saud Shakeel narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 97 as Pakistan consolidated their position before both teams agreed to a draw.
The hosts resumed their innings in the final session with Shakeel closing in on his fifth Test century. However, Lahiru Kumara ended his impressive knock by clean bowling the left-hander for 97 off 210 deliveries, including seven boundaries.
Razaullah remained unbeaten at the other end as Pakistan declared their innings at 284-8, after which both teams agreed to a draw.
Earlier, Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori continued Pakistan’s batting charge in the second session, putting together a crucial 92-run partnership to take the hosts’ lead beyond the 200-run mark.
Shakeel registered his 13th Test half-century, while Ghori provided valuable support before Milan Rathnayake broke the partnership by dismissing the latter for 35 off 69 deliveries, including three boundaries.
Arafat Minhas joined Shakeel and contributed to a 44-run stand, taking Pakistan past the 250-run mark. However, Dhananjaya de Silva ended the partnership by dismissing Minhas for 16 off 29 deliveries after hitting three boundaries.
Earlier, Pakistan resumed day five at 57-1, holding a 45-run lead, but suffered a top-order collapse. Azan Awais fell for 22 to Lahiru Kumara, while Asitha Fernando dismissed Mohammad Taha for 24.
Babar Azam and Shakeel then added a valuable 50-run partnership before Rathnayake removed Babar for 34 and Salman Ali Agha for 13, reducing the hosts to 125-5.
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka recovered strongly after Pakistan’s bowlers made early inroads. However, debutant Saqib Khan’s sensational seven-wicket haul helped the hosts regain control, although the visitors secured a 12-run first-innings lead.
In reply to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434-9 declared, Sri Lanka were reduced to 65-3 before Kamindu Mendis scored 58 and shared a 90-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva.
De Silva and captain Kusal Mendis subsequently combined for a remarkable 249-run partnership, with both batters scoring centuries to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
However, Pakistan fought back on the fourth morning, bowling out the visitors for 446.
Saqib was the standout performer with figures of 7-130, dismissing De Silva for 167, Kusal for 119 and three lower-order batters. Mohammad Abbas claimed two wickets, while Razaullah chipped in with one.
Batting first, Pakistan declared their opening innings at 434-9, with five batters registering half-centuries, including three debutants.
Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 off 199 deliveries, while Tayyab Arif contributed 57 off 51 balls. Arafat Minhas scored 52 off 72 deliveries, Mohammad Taha made 51 off 105, and captain Babar Azam added 50 off 58 balls.
