Debutant Sakib Shines with Seven Wickets as Pakistan and Sri Lanka Test Heads for Draw
In a thrilling Test match, debutant Sakib Khan takes seven wickets, but Pakistan and Sri Lanka are headed for a draw in Rawalpindi.
Rawalpindi, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : The first Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is trending towards a draw. Despite a stellar performance from debutant Sakib Khan, who claimed 7 wickets for 130 runs, Sri Lanka managed to gain a slight edge in the first innings. By the end of the fourth day, Pakistan had scored 57 runs for the loss of one wicket in their second innings.
After losing the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first and declared their innings at 434 for 9. The opening pair of Azaan Owais and Tayyab Tahir provided a solid start, sharing an 86-run partnership for the first wicket. Azaan scored 30 runs with 7 boundaries before being dismissed, shortly followed by Tayyab, who made 57 runs off 51 balls, hitting 10 boundaries.
Pakistan lost two wickets for just 90 runs, but Mohammad Taha (51) stabilized the innings with partnerships of 69 runs with captain Babar Azam (50) for the third wicket and 68 runs with Saud Shakeel. The team reached a total of 227 runs before losing their fifth wicket at 253. Saud Shakeel scored a commendable 93 runs, supported by Gazi Gori (48) and Arafat Minhas (52), contributing to a formidable total. On the Sri Lankan side, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka each took three wickets.
In response, Sri Lanka managed to score 446 runs in their first innings, taking a 12-run lead. They started poorly, losing two wickets for just 12 runs, but Kusal Mendis stepped up. He built a crucial partnership of 53 runs with Lahiru Udara (42) for the third wicket and then added 90 runs with Dhananjaya de Silva.
Kamindu Mendis returned to the pavilion after scoring 58 runs with 8 boundaries. Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya then put together a remarkable fifth-wicket partnership of 249 runs, propelling their team past 400 runs. Dhananjaya scored 167 runs with 20 boundaries, while Kusal Mendis contributed 119 runs, including 4 sixes and 10 fours.
For Pakistan, Sakib Khan’s impressive bowling was the highlight, taking 7 wickets. Mohammad Abbas claimed 2 wickets, while one wicket went to Razaullah.
As the day concluded, Pakistan faced 21.2 overs in their second innings before rain interrupted play. They lost Tayyab Arif (11) at a score of 15, dismissed LBW by Asitha Fernando. Azaan Owais (not out 22) and Mohammad Taha (not out 24) then forged an unbeaten partnership of 42 runs, bringing Pakistan’s total to a respectable position.
