ISLAMABAD: Rain and bad light stalled Pakistan’s fightback against Sri Lanka in the first Test on Thursday after debutant pacer Saqib Khan claimed 7-130 in Rawalpindi.
Saqib triggered a collapse from 404-4 overnight to 446 all out, limiting Sri Lanka’s first-innings lead to 12 runs.
Pakistan reached 57-1 before play stopped 45 minutes into the second session, taking a 45-run lead. Azan Awais was unbeaten on 22 and Mohammad Taha on 24 after Asitha Fernando trapped Tayyab Arif lbw for 11 before lunch.
With more rain forecast for Friday, the match appears headed for a draw, leaving the series to be decided in the second and final Test in Rawalpindi from November 17.
Saqib credited head coach Mike Hesson’s advice to bowl in the right areas after Pakistan’s poor bowling the previous day, describing his haul as a reward for persistent work in domestic cricket.
He struck in the day’s first over, dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind for his overnight 167. De Silva hit 20 fours in a 405-minute innings and shared a 249-run fifth-wicket stand with captain Kusal Mendis.
Mendis followed in Saqib’s fifth over for 119, adding just two runs to his overnight score. His five-hour innings included 10 fours and four sixes.
Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. Saqib completed his five-wicket haul by removing Sonal Dinusha for 20, then dismissed Lahiru Kumara for nought and Fernando for four.
He became the fourth Pakistani to take seven wickets in an innings on Test debut, joining Mohammad Zahid (7-66), Mohammad Nazir (7-99) and Abrar Ahmed (7-114).
