Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended their first Test in a draw on Friday in Rawalpindi, with the home side's result secured by Saud Shakeel and hampered by poor weather conditions.
Sri Lanka appeared to be on the verge of victory during the first session of the final day, having reduced Pakistan to 151-5 at lunch with a lead of 139. However, Shakeel saved the match by scoring a fighting 97, allowing Pakistan to finish on 284-8 with a lead of 272. Shakeel, who had scored 93 in the first innings, missed out on a second century when he was dismissed by Lahiru Kumara. His 210-ball knock included seven boundaries.
The match was significantly affected by bad light, which disrupted the last sessions of the first four days. A total of 117 overs from a stipulated 360 were lost due to these conditions. Pakistan also benefited from a brief 20-minute bad light break before lunch on Friday, during which Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori (35) maintained a 92-run sixth-wicket stand against the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Sri Lanka's chances of a win diminished on day four. After Pakistan declared at 434-9, Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets in quick succession, collapsing from 404-6 to 446 all out. During that innings, pacer Saqib Khan, one of four debutants for Pakistan, took 7-130.
The final day began with Sri Lanka taking early wickets. Kumara dismissed Azan Awais for 22 off the first ball of the day, and Asitha Fernando made it 57-3 by dismissing Mohammad Taha for 24. Kamindu Mendis spilt a chance to dismiss Babar Azam for 22 off Fernando. Azam eventually scored 34 before being caught off Rathnayaka. Salman Agha also fell for 13 in a similar fashion.
For the Sri Lankan bowling side, Milan Rathnayaka was the most successful with 3-47, while Fernando took 2-35 and Kumara took 2-65. Both teams are scheduled to begin the second and final Test at the same venue on Tuesday.
