Saud Shakeel’s 97 helps Pakistan draw first Test against Sri Lanka

Pakistan held on for a draw against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Rawalpindi on Friday, thanks to a fighting 97 from Saud Shakeel and interruptions caused by bad light.

Sri Lanka had a chance to win after taking four wickets in the morning session, leaving Pakistan struggling at 151-5 by lunch with a lead of 139 runs.

But Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori put on 92 runs for the sixth wicket to keep Sri Lanka from taking control. Shakeel scored 97 off 210 balls, hitting seven fours, before Lahiru Kumara bowled him. Pakistan were 284-8 at the time, leading by 272 runs, when both teams agreed to a draw.

Shakeel had also scored 93 in Pakistan’s first innings. Ghori made 35, while Milan Rathnayaka took three wickets for 47 runs. Asitha Fernando and Kumara claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan had lost two early wickets at the start of the day. Kumara dismissed Azan Awais for 22 with the first ball, and Fernando removed Mohammad Taha for 24 in the next over.

Babar Azam and Shakeel then added 50 runs before Rathnayaka dismissed the Pakistan captain for 34. Babar hit six fours but once again failed to score a Test century. He has now gone 42 innings without reaching three figures.

Salman Agha also fell to Rathnayaka for 13, leaving Pakistan at 125-5. Both Babar and Agha were caught by fielders positioned on the leg side.

Sri Lanka had earlier missed a chance to dismiss Babar when Kamindu Mendis dropped a catch off Fernando while the batter was on 22.

Bad light also interrupted play for around 20 minutes before lunch on Friday. Poor light had affected the match on all four previous days, with a total of 117 overs lost out of the scheduled 360.

Sri Lanka had scored 446 in their first innings after Pakistan declared at 434-9. The visitors were well placed at 404-6 but lost their last six wickets for just 42 runs. Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan took seven wickets for 130 runs.

The second and final Test will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting on Tuesday.