Pakistan and Sri Lanka drew the opening Test of their ICC World Test Championship series in Rawalpindi on November 13, after Saud Shakeel’s 97 helped the hosts reach 284/8 in their second innings. Pakistan ended 272 runs ahead, and the five-day match finished without Sri Lanka batting again.

The result came after Sri Lanka had taken a narrow first-innings lead. Pakistan had declared at 434/9; Sri Lanka replied with 446, leaving the hosts 12 runs behind when they began their second innings.

Shakeel anchors the final day

Pakistan resumed the last day at 57/1. Azan Awais made 22 and Mohammad Taha 24 before both fell, and captain Babar Azam was dismissed for 34 by Milan Rathnayaka. Salman Agha made 13 as Pakistan slipped to 125/5.

Shakeel steadied the innings, adding 92 runs for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, who scored 35. Shakeel made 97 from 210 balls, hitting seven fours, before Lahiru Kumara bowled him three runs short of a century. He had scored 93 in the first innings, leaving him with two scores in the nineties in the match.

Rathnayaka was Sri Lanka’s leading bowler in the innings, taking 3/47. Asitha Fernando and Kumara took two wickets each.

Sri Lanka’s lead and the next Test

Dhananjaya de Silva scored 167 and Kusal Mendis made 119 for Sri Lanka, whose first-innings total of 446 gave them their 12-run advantage. Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan was named Player of the Match after taking 7/130 in that innings.

Reports differed on how Pakistan’s second innings ended. IANS via Bhaskar Live reported that Shakeel was dismissed as the eighth batter on the final ball, bringing the match to a close. CricTracker instead reported that Pakistan declared at 284/8 and set Sri Lanka a target of 272 runs.

The second and final Test is scheduled to begin at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 17.