Rawalpindi: Saud Shakeel’s resolute 97 and stubborn weather interventions saw Pakistan hold Sri Lanka to a draw on the fifth and final day in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Sri Lanka had looked poised for victory after claiming four wickets in the first session, with Pakistan at 151-5 and a lead of 139. However, Shakeel dug in with a fighting 97, and Pakistan finished on 284-8, taking a 272-run lead.
Having scored 93 in the first innings, Shakeel fell short of a century once more, trapped by a Lahiru Kumara delivery, before the teams shook hands to conclude the match.
Shakeel’s 210-ball innings featured seven boundaries.
A 20-minute bad-light pause before lunch allowed Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori (35) to consolidate, adding 92 for the sixth wicket and stymieing the Sri Lankan attack.
Milan Rathnayaka claimed 3-47, while Asitha Fernando took 2-35 and Lahiru Kumara 2-65.
Bad light disrupted play across the first four days, with 117 of the scheduled 360 overs lost, making a definitive result elusive.
Sri Lanka squandered a strong day-four position, losing their final six wickets en route to 446 all out, following Pakistan’s declared 434-9.
Pacer Saqib Khan, one of four Pakistan debutants, claimed 7-130.
Both sides now turn their attention to the second and final Test, scheduled at the same venue starting Tuesday.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam lauded his batters.
“Everyone expected the pitch to be difficult, and I credit my openers for how they accessed it and gave us a good start,” Azam said, also crediting Sri Lanka.
“We should also credit Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis for the partnership they built before Saqib bowled superbly,” Azam added.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis admitted poor bowling on the first day had cost his side.
“We won the toss but didn’t do well in the first session, and that’s a learning point,” he added. “But overall I am happy.”
In the morning, Azam fell to a leg-side trap, offering a simple catch at short square-leg off Rathnayaka for 34.
Salman Agha fell to the same dismissals off Rathnayaka for 13, leaving Pakistan reeling at 125-5.
Sri Lanka struck with the first ball of the day when Kumara dismissed Azan Awais for 22, leaving Pakistan at 57 overnight.
The next over, Fernando had Mohammad Taha caught behind for 24, extending the streak to 57-3.
Sri Lanka missed a chance to dismiss Azam on 22 when Kamindu Mendis spilled a straightforward chance off Fernando, denying them an early advantage.
Azam struck six fours and added 50 for the fourth wicket with Shakeel before edging a loose shot.
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