Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test hit by bad weather after Saqib Khan's heroics

Rain and poor visibility marred the opening Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Pacer Saqib Khan made an impressive debut by taking 7 wickets for 130 runs, sparking a dramatic collapse in Sri Lanka's innings. The tourists' score plummeted from 404-4 overnight to a meager 446 all out. Pakistan, who had taken a narrow first innings lead of 12 runs, were reduced to 57-1 when bad light and subsequent rain halted play after 45 minutes of the second session.

Opener Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha held their ground with scores of 22 and 24 respectively, leaving Pakistan in a commanding position at 45 runs ahead with nine wickets still in hand. However, the prospect of additional rain on Friday has set the stage for a drawn Test, with the series outcome hanging in the balance for the second and final match in Rawalpindi on November 17.

Saqib's heroics under overcast skies were the highlight of the match. He started the Sri Lankan collapse in the first over, dismissing centurion Dhananjaya de Silva (who had amassed 20 fours in a marathon 405-run innings) without adding to his own overnight score of 167. De Silva and Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis, who had also reached a century on day three, followed him out in the fifth over, with Kusal falling for 119 after just two runs to his overnight total.

He had added 10 fours and four sixes during his five-hour stay at the crease. Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for just 42 runs, with Saqib claiming his fifth wicket when Sonal Dinusha edged to slip. Saqib then struck the tailenders Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando, becoming only the fourth Pakistani bowler to record a seven-wicket haul in an innings on debut, joining Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir, and Abrar Ahmed.