Saqib Khan takes seven on Test debut as Sri Lanka edge ahead in Rawalpindi

Saqib Khan took seven wickets on Test debut in Rawalpindi, and Sri Lanka still finished their first innings in front

The Pakistan seamer, one of four players making his Test debut in this match, returned 7-130 from 34 overs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 446 on the fourth morning of the first Test. Pakistan had been dismissed for 434 for 9 in 106.3 overs, so the visitors led by 12.

Sri Lanka resumed on 404 for 4 and lost their last six wickets for 42 runs, Saqib taking five of them in a morning that turned a commanding position into a slender one.

Pakistan began their second innings shortly afterwards and lost an early wicket on the way to 20 for 1, a lead of eight, with the fourth day under a heavy rain forecast.

Six wickets for 42 in a session

Sri Lanka began the day with two batters past three figures and the first-innings lead apparently theirs for the taking. They added only 42 more.

Saqib removed Dhananjaya de Silva for 167, caught behind after 246 balls and 20 boundaries, then had the captain Kusal Mendis caught behind for 119, made from 202 balls with 10 fours and four sixes.

Sonal Dinusha made 20, Asitha Fernando 4 and Lahiru Kumara nought, all three falling to Saqib. Pasindu Sooriyabandara was out for a seven-ball duck.

Mohammad Abbas took two wickets and Razaullah one, and Sri Lanka's innings closed in 117.2 overs.

A debut that built over four days

Saqib's haul was not the work of one spell. His maiden Test wicket came on the second day, when he had Dinesh Chandimal caught for 1, and he also had Lahiru Udara caught behind for 42 to finish that day with 2-54.

He bowled 34 overs in all, the longest workload of the innings for Pakistan, on a surface that had given the bowlers little for three days.

The Pakistan Cricket Board called it "A dream debut!" on its official account after he completed his five-wicket haul.

Where the seven-for sits

Only three Pakistan bowlers had taken seven wickets in an innings on Test debut before Thursday: Mohammad Nazir, who took 7-99 against New Zealand in 1969, Mohammad Zahid, whose 7-66 against New Zealand at this ground in 1996 remains the best by a Pakistan debutant, and Abrar Ahmed, who took 7-114 against England in 2022.

Saqib is also the first Pakistan bowler to take five in an innings on debut against Sri Lanka, in a list that stretches back to Arif Butt in 1964.

Three other Pakistan players were capped in this match — the batters Tayyab Arif and Mohammad Taha, and the spin-bowling allrounder Arafat Minhas.

What Pakistan built and could not hold

Pakistan's first innings had been held together by Saud Shakeel, who made 93 from 193 balls before edging behind, and by Minhas, whose maiden Test fifty of 52 contained nine fours and a six. Ghazi Ghori made 48.

Asitha Fernando took 3-107 and Dilshan Madushanka 3-108 for Sri Lanka.

Shakeel had expected the pitch to change character as the match went on. "Spin might come into play if there's wear and tear on the wicket," he said.

Sri Lanka's fielding and spin coach Jordan Gregory described a surface that had rewarded neither side's bowlers. "There are about 140 chances that have missed the edge and beaten the bat from both sides," he said.

Weather may settle it

Heavy showers were forecast for the afternoon of the fourth day in Rawalpindi, with the chance of rain rising sharply after lunch.

With two innings of more than 430 already completed and a single day left after Thursday, time is now the main obstacle to a result.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl. The second Test of the series was moved out of Lahore to Rawalpindi because of smog.

Scorecard: Pakistan 434 for 9 and 20 for 1; Sri Lanka 446 all out in 117.2 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 167, Kusal Mendis 119, Kamindu Mendis 58; Saqib Khan 7-130) — first Test, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, fourth day.