Rawalpindi, November 10,2026: Sri Lanka recovered from an early collapse to reach 114 for three at stumps on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, trailing the hosts by 320 runs.
The visitors suffered an early setback when Mohammad Abbas dismissed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a seven-ball duck. Debutant Saqib Khan then claimed his maiden international wicket, removing Dinesh Chandimal for just one to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 12 for two after 3.3 overs.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with a 53-run partnership, taking the visitors past the 50-run mark. However, Saqib struck again, dismissing Udara for 42 off 52 balls, including seven boundaries, to reduce Sri Lanka to 65 for three.
Kamindu then joined Dhananjaya de Silva, and the pair put Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure with an unbeaten 50-run partnership.
Kamindu remained not out on 40, while De Silva was unbeaten on 22 when bad light forced an early end to play. The two will resume Sri Lanka’s innings on the third day.
Earlier, Pakistan declared their first innings at 434 for nine in 106.3 overs, with five batters, including three debutants, scoring half-centuries.
Resuming their innings on the second day, Saud Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori added 96 runs for the sixth wicket to take Pakistan past 300. Dilshan Madushanka eventually dismissed Ghori for 48 off 72 deliveries, including two boundaries, leaving the hosts at 349 for six.
Arafat Minhas joined Shakeel and contributed to a 44-run stand for the seventh wicket. Shakeel missed his century by seven runs, scoring 93 off 199 balls with nine boundaries before Asitha Fernando dismissed him at 393 for seven.
Minhas and Razaullah helped Pakistan cross the 400-run mark, with Minhas completing his maiden Test half-century. He scored 52 off 72 balls, including nine fours and a six, before falling to Madushanka.
Lahiru Kumara then dismissed Razaullah for 10, after which Pakistan captain Babar Azam declared the innings.
Madushanka and Fernando claimed three wickets each, while Kumara, Milan Rathnayake and Sonal Dinusha took one wicket apiece.
Pakistan had made a solid start on the opening day, with Azan Awais and debutant Tayyab Arif putting together an 86-run opening partnership. Azan scored 30 off 50 balls, while Tayyab made 57 off 51 deliveries.
Babar and another debutant, Mohammad Taha, added 69 runs for the third wicket. Babar scored 50 off 58 balls before falling to Madushanka, while Taha made 51 off 105 deliveries to register his maiden Test half-century.
Sonal Dinusha dismissed Taha at 227 for four, while Salman Ali Agha contributed 16 before being removed by Fernando. Shakeel subsequently strengthened Pakistan’s position with his 12th Test half-century, finishing with 93.
