Rain Halts Play After Saqib’s Seven-Wicket Haul in Rawalpindi

Debutant pacer Saqib Khan took seven wickets on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Thursday, before bad light and then rain stopped play. Pakistan were 57-1 at the close, leading by 45 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Saqib Leads the Fightback

Sri Lanka resumed on an overnight 404-4 and were all out for 446. On an overcast morning, Saqib finished with figures of 7-130. He removed Dhananjaya de Silva, who was on 167 overnight, with the first ball of the day, caught behind by Ghazi Ghori. De Silva hit 20 fours in a 405-minute innings.

Captain Kusal Mendis, who had reached his hundred on day three, fell to Saqib for 119 in the fifth over of the day. He hit 10 fours and four sixes in his five-hour stay, and added 249 with de Silva for the fifth wicket. Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. Saqib took his fifth wicket when Sonal Dinusha (20) edged to slip, then finished the innings by dismissing Lahiru Kumara (0) and Asitha Fernando (4).

Pakistan’s Reply

Sri Lanka’s total gave them a first-innings lead of 12. Opener Tayyab Arif was out lbw to Asitha Fernando for 11 just before lunch. Play was halted 45 minutes into the second session with Pakistan on 57-1. Azan Awais (22) and Mohammad Taha (24) were unbeaten at the close.

Rare Debut Feat

Saqib became only the fourth Pakistani to take seven wickets in an innings on Test debut, joining Mohammad Zahid (7-66), Mohammad Nazir (7-99) and Abrar Ahmed (7-114).

More rain is forecast for Friday, and the match appears likely to end in a draw. The series will be decided in the second and final Test, also in Rawalpindi, starting November 17.