Pakistan built a strong position in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The hosts declared their first innings at 434 for 9 before reducing the visitors to 114 for 3 at stumps on day two. Sri Lanka still trail by 320 runs with seven wickets remaining.
Mohammad Abbas struck early when Sri Lanka began their reply. He removed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a seven-ball duck. Debutant Saqib Khan then claimed his maiden international wicket by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for just one run. The early blows left Sri Lanka struggling at 12 for 2 after only 3.3 overs.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with a calm partnership. They added fifty runs and took the score past the half-century mark. Saqib Khan struck again to remove Udara for 42 off 52 balls, which included seven boundaries. That wicket left Sri Lanka at 65 for 3.
Dhananjaya de Silva joined Kamindu Mendis and the pair responded well. They put together an unbroken fifty-run stand that carried Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark. Play stopped early because of bad light. Kamindu Mendis remained unbeaten on 40 while De Silva was not out on 22. Both will resume on day three looking to cut the deficit further.
Earlier, Pakistan declared at 434 for 9 in 106.3 overs. Five batters, including three debutants, scored half-centuries. Saud Shakeel made a solid 93 while Arafat Minhas scored a maiden Test fifty with 52. Ghazi Ghori contributed 48 and other lower-order batters added useful runs. Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets each for Sri Lanka.
On day one, openers Azan Awais and debutant Tayyab Arif had given Pakistan a solid start with an 86-run stand. Babar Azam and Mohammad Taha also posted half-centuries to push the total past 400. The strong batting display and early breakthroughs with the ball have left Pakistan firmly in control of the Test.
