The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test match ended in a draw at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday after rain and poor weather disrupted play. Pakistan declared their second innings at 284-8, setting a target of 273 runs and taking their overall lead to 272.
Saud Shakeel came close to scoring his fifth Test century but fell just three runs short. The left-handed batter scored 97 off 210 balls, hitting seven boundaries before Lahiru Kumara bowled him out.
Razaullah remained unbeaten as Pakistan declared their innings. With limited time left in the match, both teams agreed to a draw.
Earlier, Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori built a valuable 92-run partnership to strengthen Pakistan’s position. Shakeel completed his 13th Test half-century, while Ghori scored 35 off 69 balls before Milan Rathnayake ended their partnership.
Arafat Minhas then joined Shakeel and added 44 runs. He scored 16 off 29 balls before Dhananjaya de Silva dismissed him.
Pakistan resumed the final day at 57-1, holding a 45-run lead. However, the hosts lost several wickets during the morning session. Lahiru Kumara dismissed Azan Awais for 22, while Asitha Fernando removed Mohammad Taha for 24.
Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel added 50 runs to steady the innings. Rathnayake then dismissed Babar for 34 and Salman Ali Agha for 13, leaving Pakistan at 125-5.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan declared their first innings at 434-9. Five batters scored half-centuries, including three debutants.
Shakeel led the scoring with 93 off 199 balls. Tayyab Arif made 57 off 51 deliveries, while Arafat Minhas scored 52 off 72 balls. Mohammad Taha contributed 51, and captain Babar Azam added 50.
Sri Lanka responded with 446 runs, taking a narrow 12-run first-innings lead. Their innings began poorly as Pakistan reduced them to 65-3.
Kamindu Mendis scored 58 and shared a 90-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva. De Silva and captain Kusal Mendis then turned the match around with a remarkable 249-run stand.
Both batters scored centuries. De Silva made 167, while Kusal Mendis contributed 119 to put Sri Lanka in a strong position.
Pakistan fought back on the fourth morning, with debutant Saqib Khan leading the attack. He claimed seven wickets for 130 runs, dismissing both centurions and three lower-order batters.
Mohammad Abbas took two wickets, while Razaullah claimed one.
Despite Pakistan’s strong bowling performance and second-innings advantage, the weather and loss of playing time prevented a decisive result in the opening Test.
