RAWALPINDI (The Thursday Times) — Debutant Saqib Khan took seven wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 446 on the fourth morning of the first Test, a first-innings lead of 12 over Pakistan’s 434-9 declared, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Sri Lanka resumed on 404-4 but lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. Saqib finished with 7-130 from 34 overs in his first Test, Mohammad Abbas took 2-68, and Razaullah had 1-140.
Pakistan were 24-1 in their second innings in the morning session, 12 runs ahead, after Asitha Fernando trapped Tayyab Arif lbw for 11.
Seven on debut
Saqib broke the record stand that had put Sri Lanka in control, removing Dhananjaya de Silva for 167 with the score on 404. The pair had added 249 for the fifth wicket, a Sri Lankan record against Pakistan, after both reached centuries on the third day.
He then had captain Kusal Mendis caught behind by Ghazi Ghori for 119 at 412, and worked through the lower order. Six of his seven victims were caught, four by Ghori behind the stumps and two by Salman Agha.
Saqib had taken his first two Test wickets, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Udara, on the second day.
What is left
With more than a day remaining and the first innings almost level, the match is likely to turn on how quickly Pakistan can build a lead and whether their bowlers can take ten more wickets on a pitch that has produced 880 runs in two innings.
The second Test, which was moved from Lahore because of smog, also takes place in Rawalpindi, starting on November 17.
