Pakistan, Sri Lanka First Test Drawn as Rain Ends Rawalpindi Match

RAWALPINDI: The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ended in a draw without a result, after rain and bad weather interrupted play. Weather interfered on all five days, and on no day could the scheduled 90 overs be completed.

First innings

Pakistan won the toss and batted first, declaring their innings on 434 for 9. Saud Shakeel was the standout with 93, but he was dismissed just seven runs short of a century. Tayyab Arif scored 57, Arafat Minhas 52, Muhammad Talha 51, captain Babar Azam 50 and wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 48.

For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets each, while Lahiru Kumara and Sonal Dinusha took one each.

In reply, Sri Lanka scored 446, taking a slim lead of 12 runs over Pakistan. Dhananjaya de Silva made 167 and captain Kusal Mendis 119, whose fifth-wicket partnership of 249 runs was the backbone of the innings. Kamindu Mendis scored 58 and Lahiru Udara 42.

Resuming on the fourth day at 404 for 4, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 446 after Saqib Khan, making his Test debut, took six more wickets. Saqib finished with 7 for 130, while Mohammad Abbas took two and Raza Ullah one. With seven wickets in an innings on debut, Saqib became the fourth Pakistani bowler to achieve this.

Second innings

Pakistan began their second innings 12 runs behind and early wickets put them under pressure. On the final day, Lahiru Kumara dismissed Azan Awais for 22 with the first ball of the opening over. In the next over, Asitha Fernando removed Muhammad Talha for 24, leaving the score at 57.

Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel then added 50 runs for the third wicket. Babar was out for 34 and Salman Ali Agha managed 13. Saud Shakeel scored 97 off 210 balls and again failed to reach a century, his second consecutive innings without one. Ghazi Ghori played a knock of 35.

Pakistan reached 284 for 8 in 84.5 overs in their second innings, giving them an overall lead of 272 runs. However, rain, bad weather and poor light prevented any further play, and the umpires declared the match a draw.

Saqib Khan was named Player of the Match for his bowling. The second and final Test of the series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 17 November, and will decide the series result.