Debutant Saqib Khan Stars As Pakistan Put Sri Lanka Under Pressure

Debutant pacer Saqib Khan struck twice as Sri Lanka reached 114/3 at stumps on Day 2 of the opening Test after Pakistan declared their first innings at 434/9 in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Saqib made an immediate impact, dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for one in his second over before removing a well-set Lahiru Udara for 42 to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 65/3. The first breakthrough came from experienced seamer Mohammad Abbas, who had opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara caught behind for a duck in the third over. At the close of play, Kamindu Mendis was unbeaten on 40, while captain Dhananjaya de Silva remained not out on 22. Sri Lanka still trail by 320 runs on the first innings.

Bad light once again brought an early end to proceedings, with play ending around 25 minutes ahead of schedule.

Sri Lanka were handed a lifeline in the penultimate over of the day when Arafat Minhas dropped De Silva off his own bowling.

Saqib finished the day with figures of 2/54, while Abbas returned 1/23.

Earlier, Pakistan middle-order batter Saud Shakeel fell agonisingly short of a century, dismissed for 93 after miscued hooking a delivery from Asitha Fernando to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who completed his fifth catch of the innings.

Shakeel, who became Fernando's 100th Test wicket, struck nine boundaries during his 199-ball knock.

Resuming at 281/5, Pakistan were indebted to a valuable 96-run sixth-wicket partnership between Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori, who contributed a confident 48.

Despite missing out on a fifth Test century, Shakeel was pleased with Pakistan's overall batting effort.

"Yes, you are disappointed when you miss a milestone and it does not look good. But we have put up a good total, with Arafat contributing a half-century as well," Shakeel said.

Sri Lanka fielding coach Jordan Gregory expressed hope that his side's batters could show similar resilience and keep the match alive.

"We have to take the game session by session and hope the Kamindu-De Silva partnership continues and helps us make a contest of it because the pitch still has enough in it to produce a result," Gregory said.

Debutant Arafat Minhas added further impetus to Pakistan's innings with a stylish 52, featuring nine fours and a six, becoming the fifth Pakistan batter to score a half-century in the innings.

Sri Lanka had hoped to make early inroads on a pitch offering pace and carry, but struggled to make consistent breakthroughs despite taking the second new ball after 80 overs.

Dilshan Madushanka eventually broke through when Ghori edged to gully, where Sooriyabandara completed a low catch.

Fernando and Madushanka were the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, claiming three wickets each.

The second and final Test of the series will be played in Lahore from November 17.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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