Pakistan tightened their grip on the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. After declaring their first innings on 434 for 9, the hosts reduced Sri Lanka to 114 for 3 before bad light brought an early end to the second day’s play. Sri Lanka still trail by 320 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Kamindu Mendis (40 not out) and Dhananjaya de Silva (22 not out) steadied the innings with an unbeaten 49-run stand for the fourth wicket, after Pakistan’s bowlers struck three times early on.
Shakeel Misses Out on a Hundred
Resuming on 281 for 5, Pakistan added 153 runs on the second day. Saud Shakeel, who had held the innings together on day one, looked set for a century but fell for 93 off 199 balls. He was caught by Kusal Mendis off Asitha Fernando, leaving Pakistan on 393 for 7.
Ghazi Ghori played a useful hand of 48 off 72 balls before falling to Dilshan Madushanka. Arafat Minhas then attacked the tired Sri Lankan bowlers with a quick 52 off 72 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. Pakistan declared after lunch once Lahiru Kumara removed Razaullah for 10.
Pakistan’s total was built on contributions from almost the entire batting order. Tayyab Arif (57), Mohammad Taha (51) and Babar Azam (50) had all scored half-centuries on the opening day, after Sri Lanka chose to bowl first.
Asitha Fernando and Madushanka were the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with three wickets each. Fernando finished with 3 for 107 and, during the innings, became the sixth Sri Lankan fast bowler to take 100 Test wickets. Madushanka returned 3 for 108, while Milan Rathnayake was the most economical, conceding just 72 runs in his 25 overs.
Saqib Khan Strikes Twice as Sri Lanka Wobble
Sri Lanka’s reply got off to a poor start. Mohammad Abbas removed Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck, and Saqib Khan then dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for 1, leaving the visitors on 12 for 2.
Lahiru Udara hit back with a counter-attacking 42 off 52 balls, including seven fours, but Saqib returned to have him caught by Ghazi Ghori, reducing Sri Lanka to 65 for 3. Saqib finished the day with 2 for 54, while Abbas was tight as ever with 1 for 23 from nine overs.
Kamindu and Dhananjaya then rebuilt the innings with a calm partnership, taking Sri Lanka past 100 before the umpires called off play due to fading light.
| PAK vs SL 1st Test, Day 2: Brief Scores | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan 1st innings | 434/9 dec in 106.3 overs (Saud Shakeel 93, Tayyab Arif 57, Arafat Minhas 52, Mohammad Taha 51, Babar Azam 50; Asitha Fernando 3/107, Dilshan Madushanka 3/108) |
| Sri Lanka 1st innings | 114/3 in 27.1 overs (Lahiru Udara 42, Kamindu Mendis 40*, Dhananjaya de Silva 22*; Saqib Khan 2/54, Mohammad Abbas 1/23) |
| Status | Sri Lanka trail by 320 runs |
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Sri Lanka will need a big effort from Kamindu and Dhananjaya on the third day to avoid the follow-on, which is still 121 runs away. Pakistan, meanwhile, will look for early wickets in the morning session to keep the follow-on in play.
