Saqib Khan took seven wickets on his Test debut on Thursday, leading a Sri Lankan collapse that ended with the visitors all out for 446 in Rawalpindi. Pakistan were 57 for 1 when bad light and then rain stopped play in the second session, leaving the home side 45 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand. More rain is forecast for Friday, and the first Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test is heading for a draw.
Sri Lanka's innings ends at 446
Sri Lanka resumed the day on 404 for 4 under an overcast sky, but they lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. Saqib struck in the first over of the morning, having Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind by Ghazi Ghori. De Silva fell without adding to his overnight score of 167, after a 405-minute innings that included 20 fours.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis, who had also reached his hundred on day three, was out to Saqib for 119 in the fifth over of the morning. Mendis and De Silva had added 249 runs for the fifth wicket, and Mendis hit 10 fours and four sixes in five hours at the crease. Saqib then took his fifth wicket when Sonal Dinusha, who made 20, edged to slip.
Saqib finished the innings by dismissing the lower-order batters Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando. With seven wickets in the innings, he became only the fourth Pakistani to take seven wickets in an innings on Test debut. The others were Mohammad Zahid (7-66), Mohammad Nazir (7-99) and Abrar Ahmed (7-114).
Pakistan's reply, rain and what comes next
Sri Lanka had taken a slender first-innings lead of 12 runs, so Pakistan began their reply needing to overcome that deficit. Opener Tayyab Arif was out lbw, meaning leg before wicket, to Asitha Fernando for 11 just before lunch. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha were unbeaten on 22 and 24 when play stopped, which left Pakistan 45 runs ahead.
Bad light and then rain stopped play 45 minutes into the second session. With more rain forecast for Friday, the Test is heading towards a draw, and the series will now be decided in the second and final Test. That match is also scheduled for Rawalpindi, beginning on November 17.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Day three: Sri Lanka ended on 404 for 4, with Dhananjaya de Silva on 167 and Kusal Mendis having reached his hundred.
- Thursday, November 12, morning: Saqib Khan dismissed De Silva and Mendis, and Sri Lanka were all out for 446.
- Thursday, before lunch: Pakistan lost opener Tayyab Arif, lbw to Asitha Fernando for 11.
- Thursday, second session: bad light and then rain stopped play with Pakistan on 57 for 1.
- Friday: more rain is forecast.
- November 17: the second and final Test begins in Rawalpindi.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan aur Sri Lanka ke pehle Test mein Saqib Khan ne apne debut par 7 wicket liye aur Sri Lanka 446 par all out ho gaya. Barish aur kam roshni ki wajah se khel ruk gaya, aur Pakistan abhi 45 runs aage hai. Jumay ko bhi barish ki pesh goi hai, is liye Test draw ki taraf ja raha hai. Series ka faisla 17 November se Rawalpindi mein hone wale aakhri Test se hoga.
