Pakistan 390-6 at lunch on Day 2 as Saud Shakeel nears a century in 1st cricket test

Rawalpindi, Pakistan witnessed Pakistan's innings of 390-6 during lunch on the second day of their first cricket test against Sri Lanka. Saud Shakeel, who last scored a test hundred against England in 2024, was nearing his first test century as Pakistan advanced to 109 runs from their overnight total of 281-5. Shakeel, who got out unbeaten on 91 off 192 balls, scored nine boundaries towards his landmark score.

Arafat Minhas, making his test debut, added 41 runs with Shakeel, showing aggression with four boundaries and a pulled six off Lahiru Kumara. Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka, taking 2-87 and 2-97 respectively, held the innings together despite the greenish wicket that invited Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis to bowl first after winning the toss.

Shakeel shared an 96-run partnership with Ghazi Ghori, who fell for 48 when he mistimed a shot to Pasindu Sooriyabandara at gully. Sri Lanka's pace attack struggled to contain Shakeel and Sri Lanka's bowlers managed to take their first breakthrough only in the ninth over with the second new ball, when Sooriyabandara made a spectacular two-handed low catch.

Minhas and Shakeel formed a crucial partnership of 41 runs. Tayyab Arif and Mohammad Taha, both making their test debuts, scored half-centuries on the first day. Pakistan has only won two of their nine matches in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle and has struggled with a 3-0 loss in England and a 2-0 drubbing at Bangladesh's hands.

Sri Lanka, currently ranked 7th in the WTC standings, had lost the T20 series 2-1 and the ODI tri-series final to Pakistan.