Debutant Saqib Khan finished with 7 for 130 as Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 and were bowled out for 446, a 12-run first-innings lead in Rawalpindi. Pakistan closed Day 4 on 57 for 1, 45 ahead, after bad light and rain ended play early.
Rawalpindi, Pakistan: Sri Lanka began Thursday at 404 for 4, 30 runs short of Pakistan’s 434 for 9 declared, with an unbroken 249-run stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis still intact. That partnership did not survive the day’s early play: the first-innings lead was taken, but a debutant bowler made sure it stayed at 12.
Saqib ends the stand
Saqib Khan had gone into the day with two wickets from Day 2. On Thursday he removed de Silva for 167, and Kusal Mendis followed for 119, two runs added to his overnight 117. The fifth-wicket stand that had frustrated Pakistan through Day 3 ended at 249.
The tail could not build on it. Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 42 runs and were all out in 117.2 overs. Saqib took five wickets on the day to finish with 7 for 130 from 34 overs, while Mohammad Abbas ended with two wickets and Razaullah one. Pakistan’s 434 for 9 had been built on Saud Shakeel’s 93, and the collapse meant Sri Lanka’s advantage was only 12 runs.
Pakistan reset in the second innings
Pakistan’s second innings began with an early setback. Debutant Tayyab Arif, who made 57 in the first innings, was out to Asitha Fernando for 11 with the score on 15. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha then steadied things with an unbroken stand of 42, Awais reaching 22 and Taha 24, before bad light and rain ended the day after 21.2 overs.
That left Pakistan on 57 for 1, 45 runs ahead with nine second-innings wickets in hand.
Day 5 and what Pakistan need
The Test is scheduled to finish on Friday. Pakistan’s lead is modest, but with nine wickets standing they can bat on, build a target and test the Sri Lankan attack. Bad light has cut play short on both Day 3 and Day 4, so time is a factor for both sides, and any further interruption would favour the draw.
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, first Test, Rawalpindi (Day 4)
Pakistan: 434 for 9 declared (106.3 overs); 57 for 1 (21.2 overs). Tayyab Arif 11, Azan Awais 22*, Mohammad Taha 24*.
Sri Lanka: 446 all out (117.2 overs). Dhananjaya de Silva 167, Kusal Mendis 119. Saqib Khan 7 for 130 (34 overs), Mohammad Abbas 2 wickets, Razaullah 1 wicket.
Status: Stumps on Day 4, bad light and rain. Pakistan lead by 45 runs with nine second-innings wickets in hand.
