Pakistan Declare on 434 as Debutants Shine and Sri Lanka Stumble to 114 for 3

Pakistan tightened their grip on the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, declaring their first innings on 434 for 9 before reducing the visitors to 114 for 3 at stumps on day two.

Resuming on 281 for 5, the hosts added 153 runs through the day. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 from 199 balls, falling seven short of a century when Asitha Fernando had him caught behind, while Arafat Minhas made 52 and wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori added 48.

Captain Babar Azam called his side in after Razaullah fell for 10, and debutant seamer Saqib Khan struck twice as Sri Lanka closed 320 runs behind with Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva unbeaten.

Five fifties power Pakistan

Five Pakistan batters passed fifty in the innings, including three debutants — Tayyab Arif with 57 and Mohammad Taha with 51 on day one, and Minhas on day two — while Babar himself scored 50 off 58 balls.

Bad light ends play early again

Deteriorating light brought an early close for the second day running, leaving Sri Lanka with seven wickets in hand and plenty of work to do when play resumes on Wednesday.

Source: Times of India