Pakistan Resume First Innings Against Sri Lanka on Day 2 Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Pakistan began day two of the first Test at 281-5 on Tuesday. Their first innings against Sri Lanka was built on a strong opening day at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The hosts were put in to bat first. They made a fast start and reached 281-5 in 67.2 overs before bad light stopped play.

Four batters scored half-centuries. Debutants Tayyab Arif and Mohammad Taha were among them, along with captain Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel.

Openers Azan Awais and Tayyab attacked from the first over. They hit loose balls for boundaries and put the visitors under pressure early.

Their 86-run stand ended in the 16th over. Milan Rathnayake dismissed Azan for 30 off 35 balls, with seven boundaries.

Asitha Fernando removed Tayyab in the next over. The debutant made 57 off 51 balls, with nine fours and a six.

Babar then joined Taha, and the two calmly rebuilt the innings. They added 69 runs, and Babar reached his 35th Test fifty.

Dilshan Madushanka ended Babar’s innings on 50 off 58 balls, which left Pakistan at 159-3.

Shakeel and Taha then added 68 runs for the fourth wicket. Taha scored a maiden Test fifty on debut before Sonal Dinusha dismissed him for 51 off 105 balls.

Salman Ali Agha scored 16 before Fernando took his second wicket of the innings. Shakeel kept going and reached his 12th Test fifty.

At the close, Shakeel was on 57 off 112 balls. Ghazi Ghori was with him on seven off 10 balls.