RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s debutants continued to inspire to leave Sri Lanka trailing by 320 runs with seven first-innings wickets in hand after two days of the first cricket test on Tuesday.
Fast bowler Saqib Khan, one of the four newcomers, brought the greenish pitch to life with 2-54 as Sri Lanka reached 114-3 before bad light brought an early closure for the second successive day. Nearly 26 overs were not bowled.
Only 67.2 overs were possible on Day 1 when Pakistan reached 281-5 with play continuing in floodlights for almost 45 minutes on both days at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan declared at 434-9 midway into the second session on Tuesday after five half-centuries — three to debutants — and a 48. Saud Shakeel missed out on his first century in over two years on 93.
At stumps, Kamindu Mendis survived a close lbw review and a leading edge fell just short of the fielder to be unbeaten on 40 and former test captain Dhananjaya de Silva had 22.
“There are about 140 chances that have missed the edge and beaten the bat from both sides, so probably says enough that there’s a chance of a result,” Sri Lanka fielding and spin coach Jordan Gregory said.
“So far Kamindu and DDS have put on a good partnership and we would like to…
