RAWALPINDI: Pakistan tightened their grip on the opening Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, declaring their first innings at 434 for nine before reducing the visitors to 114 for three at stumps on the second day at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Sri Lanka, still trailing by 320 runs, will resume on the third day with Kamindu Mendis unbeaten on 40 and captain Dhananjaya de Silva not out on 22. Bad light forced an early close after 27.1 overs of the Sri Lankan innings.
Earlier, Pakistan resumed at 281 for five and consolidated their strong position through important lower-order contributions. Saud Shakeel and debutant Ghazi Ghori added 96 runs for the sixth wicket, frustrating the Sri Lankan attack.
Saud, who had reached 57 on the opening day, continued to anchor the innings but fell seven runs short of a century. He was dismissed for 93 off 199 balls, caught behind off Asitha Fernando, finishing as Pakistan’s highest scorer.
Ghazi made a valuable 48 before his dismissal brought another debutant, Arafat Minhas, to the crease. Minhas produced an impressive knock of 52 from 72 balls, hitting nine fours and a six, further strengthening Pakistan’s position.
Minhas was eventually removed by Dilshan Madushanka, while Razaullah added a brisk 10 before Pakistan declared in the 107th over.
Pakistan’s innings featured five half-centuries, including three by debutants. Tayyab Arif scored 57, Mohammad Taha made 51 and Minhas added 52. Captain Babar Azam also registered a half-century, while Saud’s 93 remained the top individual score.
For Sri Lanka, Fernando and Madushanka picked up three wickets each, sharing six wickets between them, but the visitors struggled to contain Pakistan’s batting depth.
In reply, Pakistan’s pace bowlers struck early to put Sri Lanka under pressure. Mohammad Abbas provided the first breakthrough when he removed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck, caught behind.
Debutant Saqib Khan then dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for one before striking again to remove Lahiru Udara, who made a fighting 42. Udara was caught behind by Ghazi, leaving Sri Lanka in trouble.
With three wickets down, Mendis and de Silva showed composure and put together an unbeaten 49-run stand to prevent further damage. Mendis looked assured on 40, while de Silva remained unbeaten on 22 as the pair negotiated Pakistan’s attack.
However, fading light denied Pakistan further overs, with the umpires calling an early close.
Pakistan will enter the third day firmly in control, holding a substantial first-innings lead with Sri Lanka three wickets down. The visitors face a difficult task of rebuilding their innings, with Mendis and de Silva carrying the responsibility of keeping them in the contest.
