Led by Saud Shakeel, Pakistan foiled Sri Lanka’s victory bids as the first Test ended in a draw on the fifth and final day in Rawalpindi on Friday, helped by bad weather.
Sri Lanka had taken four wickets in the first session and Pakistan were 151-5 at lunch, a lead of 139. Shakeel then saved the home side with a fighting 97, and Pakistan finished on 284-8, a lead of 272. He was bowled by Lahiru Kumara shortly before the teams shook hands to end the match.
Saud Shakeel’s innings frustrates Sri Lanka’s attack
Shakeel had scored 93 in the first innings. His knock of 210 balls included seven boundaries, and he came close to a second hundred of the match before his dismissal.
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Pakistan were given a brief break of 20 minutes for bad light before lunch. Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori, who scored 35, then put together a 92-run stand for the sixth wicket and kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay.
Milan Rathnayaka was the best bowler for Sri Lanka with figures of 3-47. Asitha Fernando took 2-35 and Kumara finished with 2-65.
Bad light cuts into the Rawalpindi Test
Bad light marred the final sessions on each of the first four days. In total, 117 overs out of a stipulated 360 were lost, which made a result difficult to achieve.
Both teams will now turn their attention to the second and final Test, which starts at the same venue on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka’s collapse and Saqib Khan’s seven-wicket haul
Sri Lanka had a strong position on the fourth day, at 404-6, but lost their last six wickets and were all out for 446 in reply to Pakistan’s declared total of 434-9. Pacer Saqib Khan, one of four debutants for Pakistan, took 7-130.
Babar Azam’s century drought continues in Rawalpindi
In the morning, Babar Azam fell to a leg-side trap for 34, handing a short square-leg fielder a simple catch off the bowling of Rathnayaka. It was Azam’s 42nd innings without a Test century.
Salman Agha was dismissed in the same way by Rathnayaka for 13, leaving Pakistan struggling on 125-5. Earlier, Kumara had removed Azan Awais for 22 with the first ball of the day, at an overnight total of 57.
Fernando then made it 57-3 by having Mohammad Taha caught behind for 24. Sri Lanka could also have dismissed Azam on 22, but Kamindu Mendis dropped a straightforward chance off Fernando. Azam hit six fours and added 50 for the fourth wicket with Shakeel before playing a loose shot.
