Pakistan declared their first innings at 434-9 in 106.3 overs after five batters scored half-centuries against Sri Lanka on the second day of the opening Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Saud Shakeel led the batting effort with an impressive 93 off 199 deliveries, while debutant Arafat Minhas marked his first Test appearance with a half-century.
Pakistan resumed day two at 281-5, with Shakeel unbeaten on 57 and wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori on seven.
The pair continued their resistance, taking Pakistan past the 300-run mark and building a 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
However, Dilshan Madushanka broke the stand by dismissing Ghori for 48 off 72 deliveries, including two boundaries. Pakistan were 349-6 after 88.1 overs.
Saud Shakeel Misses Century as Minhas Shines on Debut
Arafat Minhas joined Shakeel at the crease and made an immediate impact, scoring freely against the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
The pair added 44 runs for the seventh wicket before Asitha Fernando dismissed Shakeel for 93 off 199 balls. His innings included nine boundaries.
Shakeel fell seven runs short of his first Test century in nearly two years, leaving Pakistan at 393-7 after 100.2 overs.
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Minhas continued to build the innings alongside Razaullah as Pakistan crossed the 400-run mark.
The debutant reached his maiden Test half-century with nine boundaries and a six before Madushanka dismissed him for 52 off 72 deliveries.
Pakistan Declare First Innings at 434-9
Following Minhas’s dismissal, Lahiru Kumara removed Razaullah for 10 as Pakistan moved closer to declaring their innings.
Captain Babar Azam eventually declared at 434-9 after 106.3 overs, giving Pakistan a substantial first-innings total.
For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka claimed three wickets each. Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake and Sonal Dinusha took one wicket apiece.
Four Pakistan Batters Score Fifties on Opening Day
Pakistan had also made a strong start on the opening day, with four batters registering half-centuries.
Openers Azan Awais and debutant Tayyab Arif added 86 runs for the first wicket before Awais departed for 30 off 50 deliveries.
Tayyab followed shortly afterwards, scoring an aggressive 57 off 51 balls, including nine boundaries and a six.
Babar Azam and debutant Mohammad Taha then steadied the innings, adding valuable runs for the third wicket.
Babar scored 50 off 58 deliveries before falling to Madushanka, while Taha registered his maiden Test half-century with 51 off 105 balls.
Sonal Dinusha dismissed Taha at 227-4, while Salman Ali Agha contributed 16 before becoming Fernando’s second victim.
Shakeel continued his innings and reached his 12th Test half-century as Pakistan finished the opening day at 281-5.
