Pakistan stretched their lead over Sri Lanka to 45 runs despite losing opener Tayyab Arif early, before bad light and rain forced early stump on the fourth day of the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
The hosts made a steady start, with Tayyab finding the boundary twice in the opening overs. However, the right-handed batter was trapped LBW by Asitha Fernando for 11 off eight deliveries, leaving Pakistan at 15-1 after 2.2 overs.
Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha then joined forces at the crease and steadied the innings with a valuable partnership, helping Pakistan extend their overall lead. At lunch, Azan was unbeaten on 16, while Taha had contributed 12 as Pakistan continued their second innings.
The pair resumed after the interval and added further runs to Pakistan’s advantage. However, deteriorating weather conditions, with bad light and rain, forced the players off the field, bringing the day’s play to an early conclusion after 21.2 overs in Pakistan’s second innings.
At the close of play, Pakistan were 57-1, holding an overall lead of 45 runs, with Azan unbeaten on 22 and Taha on 24.
Earlier, Sri Lanka responded strongly to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434-9, with Dhananjaya de Silva and captain Kusal Mendis sharing a mammoth 249-run partnership as both batters scored centuries.
The visitors suffered an early setback on the second day, losing two wickets for just 12 runs. Mohammad Abbas dismissed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a seven-ball duck before debutant Saqib Khan claimed his maiden international wicket, removing Dinesh Chandimal for one.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with a 50-run stand before Saqib struck again, dismissing Udara for 42 off 52 deliveries, including seven boundaries, to leave Sri Lanka at 65-3.
De Silva and Kusal then took control, frustrating Pakistan’s bowling attack with their commanding partnership. Kamindu also contributed with a crucial 90-run stand alongside De Silva, scoring 58 off 131 deliveries, including eight boundaries, before Mohammad Abbas dismissed him to leave Sri Lanka at 155-4 after 42 overs.
However, Pakistan staged an impressive comeback on the fourth morning as Sri Lanka added just 42 runs before losing their remaining six wickets to finish at 446.
Saqib struck in the opening over, dismissing the well-set De Silva for 167 off 246 deliveries, including 20 boundaries, to break the 249-run partnership. He removed Kusal in the following over for an impressive 119 off 202 balls, featuring 10 boundaries and four sixes.
The debutant continued his remarkable spell, dismissing Sonal Dinusha (20), Lahiru Kumara (0) and Asitha Fernando (4). Razaullah accounted for Milan Rathnayaka (12).
Saqib finished with outstanding figures of 7/130 in 34 overs, while Abbas claimed two wickets and Razaullah took one.