Pakistan's Saqib takes seven on debut to spark Sri Lanka collapse

Rawalpindi witnessed a remarkable performance from Pakistan's Saqib Khan as he took seven wickets on his Test debut, sparking Sri Lanka's collapse from their overnight total of 404-4 to 446 all out on the fourth day. The overcast morning saw Saqib shine with a remarkable 7-130, making him only the fourth Pakistani to achieve this feat in their first Test appearance.

The match started with Pakistani opener Tayyab Arif falling for 11, leaving the new team with a 12-run deficit. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha held the fort with scores of 16 and 12 respectively, before the innings collapse began.

Saqib's early wickets included the centurion Dhananjaya de Silva, who had scored a spectacular 405-minute 167, and Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka's captain, who had reached his hundred in the previous day's play. De Silva, who had put on an impressive 249 runs for the fifth wicket with Mendis, was caught behind by Ghazi Ghori after adding just two to his overnight score.

Kusal, who had hit 10 fours and four sixes in five hours at the crease, was dismissed for 119 in the fifth over, contributing 249 runs for the fifth wicket. Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for just 42 runs, with Saqib sealing the collapse by dismissing Sonal Dinusha and Asitha Fernando. The Pakistani bowler became only the fourth player to take seven wickets in an innings on debut, joining the ranks of Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir, and Abrar Ahmed.