Quick Facts
Introduction
The Rawalpindi Test ended in a draw. Saud Shakeel made 93 and 97, debutant Saqib Khan took 7-130, and Sri Lanka got a 12-run lead. Full scorecard.
Saud Shakeel was one of the most talked-about names in Pakistan cricket on Friday, and it is easy to see why. On a pitch that rarely made batting easy, he held Pakistan together twice, and twice fell agonisingly short of a century. His second-innings 97 on the final morning and afternoon helped Pakistan avoid a late collapse that briefly gave Sri Lanka a sniff of victory.
For related updates, explore Jobs, Scholarships, Government Schemes and Admissions for more information.
Here is how the five days played out, with the full numbers.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Scores in Brief
| Innings | Score | Top performers |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan 1st innings | 434/9 dec (106.3 overs) | Saud Shakeel 93, Tayyab Arif 57, Arafat Minhas 52, Mohammad Taha 51, Babar Azam 50 |
| Sri Lanka 1st innings | 446 all out (117.2 overs) | Dhananjaya de Silva 167, Kusal Mendis 119; Saqib Khan 7-130 |
| Pakistan 2nd innings | 284/8 dec (84.5 overs) | Saud Shakeel 97, Ghazi Ghori 35; Milan Rathnayaka 3-47 |
| Result | Match drawn | Toss: Sri Lanka, chose to field |
Day 1 and 2: Pakistan Bat Big
Sri Lanka won the toss and bowled first. Pakistan's openers attacked from the start, with debutant opener Tayyab Arif reaching fifty off 46 balls and making 57. Mohammad Taha (51) and captain Babar Azam (50) also passed fifty, and Pakistan finished day one on 281 for 5, with Shakeel unbeaten on 57.
On day two, Shakeel added to that patiently while Arafat Minhas (52 off 72 balls) and Ghazi Ghori (48) gave him support. Shakeel was out for 93 off 199 balls, and Pakistan declared on 434 for 9. Sri Lanka closed the day on 114 for 3.
Day 3: De Silva and Mendis Take Control
Dhananjaya de Silva and captain Kusal Mendis then batted through more than two sessions. Their unbroken stand of 249 on day three took Sri Lanka to 404 for 4 at stumps. De Silva made 167 off 246 balls with 20 fours. Mendis, in his first Test as Sri Lanka's captain according to ESPNcricinfo, made 119 off 202 balls with four sixes.
Day 4: Saqib Khan's Seven-Wicket Debut
On the fourth morning Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 runs, and the innings belonged to Saqib Khan. The 31-year-old was making his Test debut and finished with 7 for 130 from 34 overs, bowling Sri Lanka out for 446 and limiting the lead to 12. Mohammad Abbas (2-68 from 33 overs) gave little away at the other end.
Pakistan reached 57 for 1 in their second innings before bad light ended play early in the afternoon.
Day 5: A Nervy Morning, Then Shakeel Again
After overnight rain, Sri Lanka struck with the first ball of the day and again five balls later, removing Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha. Babar Azam (34) and Salman Agha (13) also fell before lunch, and at 151 for 5 Pakistan led by only 139. ESPNcricinfo's lunch report said Sri Lanka had a narrow but realistic path to victory at that stage.
Shakeel shut that door. He batted 210 balls for 97, adding valuable runs with Ghazi Ghori (35) and the lower order, before Pakistan declared on 284 for 8 and the match ended in a draw. For Sri Lanka, Milan Rathnayaka took 3 for 47, and Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara two wickets each.
Best Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Team | Innings | Figures (O-M-R-W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saqib Khan | Pakistan | SL 1st | 34-5-130-7 |
| Asitha Fernando | Sri Lanka | PAK 1st | 26-2-107-3 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | PAK 1st | 23-3-108-3 |
| Milan Rathnayaka | Sri Lanka | PAK 2nd | 20-6-47-3 |
| Mohammad Abbas | Pakistan | SL 1st | 33-12-68-2 |
What It Means for Pakistan
The draw keeps the series level with one Test to play. The positives were clear: a seven-wicket debut for Saqib Khan, a confident start from Tayyab Arif, and Shakeel's reliability in both innings. The concern is the second-innings wobble on the last morning, when four wickets fell cheaply and only Shakeel's patience protected the team.
The second and final Test is scheduled in Lahore from 17 to 21 November. See our Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series schedule for the full plan.
FAQs
Who won the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test?
Nobody. The first Test at Rawalpindi ended in a draw on 13 November 2026.
How many runs did Saud Shakeel score in the Rawalpindi Test?
He scored 93 in the first innings and 97 in the second, a total of 190 runs.
Who took seven wickets on debut?
Pakistan's Saqib Khan took 7 for 130 in Sri Lanka's first innings on his Test debut.
When is the second Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test?
The second Test is scheduled in Lahore from 17 to 21 November 2026.
Sources: Scorecard and match reports from ESPNcricinfo; series dates from the Pakistan Cricket Board schedule.
The featured image is an AI-generated illustration and does not show a real player or match.
Comments (0)
No Comments Found