Play on the fourth day of the Rawalpindi Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was called off early due to poor light, with Pakistan reaching 57 for 1 in their second innings to take a 45-run lead.
At stumps, Muhammad Taha was unbeaten on 24, while Azan Awais was batting on 22. Tayyab Arif was the only Pakistani batter dismissed, scoring 11 runs. Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers produced an impressive performance to restrict Sri Lanka to 446 all out, giving the visitors a narrow 12-run first-innings lead.
Resuming their innings at 404 for 4, Sri Lanka suffered an early setback as Saqib Khan dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva in the opening over of the day without allowing him to add to his overnight score of 167.
De Silva had shared a magnificent 249-run partnership with captain Kusal Mendis, who was unbeaten on 117 at the close of the third day. Mendis also fell to Saqib Khan after adding just two runs to his overnight total, bringing his innings to 119.
Sri Lanka managed to add only 42 runs to their overnight score while losing their remaining six wickets. Saqib Khan led Pakistan’s bowling attack with an outstanding performance, while Muhammad Abbas claimed two wickets and Razaullah took one.
Pakistan had declared their first innings at 434 for 9. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93, while Tayyab Arif (57), Arafat Minhas (52), Muhammad Taha (51) and captain Babar Azam (50) also scored half-centuries. Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the policy of providing opportunities to young players would continue.
