Saud Shakeel missed a century for the second time in the match, but his gritty 97 helped Pakistan secure a draw against Sri Lanka in the first cricket Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Shakeel, who had scored 93 in the first innings, occupied the crease for almost the entire final day before being bowled by Lahiru Kumara after facing 210 balls.
Pakistan, who declared their first innings at 434-9, faced significant pressure on the final day under overcast conditions. Sri Lankan pace bowlers Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, and Kumara dismantled the top order, reducing the hosts to 125-5 in the first session. Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored 34, while overnight batters Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha were dismissed early without adding to their scores of 22 and 24, respectively.
The match turned in Pakistan's favor during the middle sessions as Shakeel anchored the innings. He shared a crucial 92-run partnership with Ghazi Ghori, who contributed 35 runs, to deny Sri Lanka a potential victory. When the match was called off, Pakistan had reached 284-8, holding an overall lead of 272 runs.
This outcome marks the first draw for Pakistan during their ongoing World Test Championship campaign, following seven losses and two wins in their previous nine matches. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis noted that the team was satisfied with their batting performance and their bowling efforts in the second innings.
Key facts
- Saud Shakeel scored 97 in the second innings and 93 in the first, facing 210 balls before being bowled by Lahiru Kumara.
- Sri Lanka’s bowling figures included Milan Rathnayake (3-47), Asitha Fernando (2-35), and Lahiru Kumara (2-65).
- The match saw 117 overs lost to bad light and rain across the first four days of play.
- The second Test of the two-match series is scheduled to begin at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium next Tuesday.
Why it matters
The second Test was relocated to Rawalpindi from Lahore due to rising smog levels. The drawn result serves as a slight reprieve for Pakistan after a challenging run in the current World Test Championship cycle.
Background
The first Test saw Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis score a century during his first match in the leadership role, featuring in a 249-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva.
Source: The Hindu, Hindustan Times
Comments