Pakistan seized total control of the opening Test in Rawalpindi, posting a formidable 434/9 on Day 2 before restricting Sri Lanka to 114/3. Captain Babar Azam declared the innings after 106.3 overs, capping a dominant second day where the hosts added 153 runs to their overnight total of 281/5. The commanding display was powered by a resilient middle order that frustrated the Sri Lankan attack, setting the stage for a decisive first-day advantage in the series opener.
Debutants anchor historic 434 total as Pakistan builds 320-run lead on Day 2
The highlight of Pakistan’s batting performance was the emergence of two debutants who delivered under immense pressure. Tayyab Arif and Arafat Minhas both struck valuable half-centuries, providing crucial stability when the top order had already been dismantled. Their contributions were vital in pushing the team past the 400-run mark, while veteran Saud Shakeel narrowly missed a century, anchoring the innings with patience. Shakeel’s partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori, which yielded 96 runs for the sixth wicket, was instrumental in taking Pakistan past the 300-run benchmark and extending their lead.
In reply, Sri Lanka struggled to find rhythm, losing three early wickets to a sharp Pakistani bowling attack. Mohammad Abbas and debutant Saqib Khan made crucial breakthroughs, dismantling the visitors’ top order and leaving them reeling. Bad light brought an early end to proceedings, with Sri Lanka trailing by 320 runs at 114/3. Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva remained unbeaten at the close, but the hosts are now firmly in the driver’s seat, having established a massive lead after just two days of play.
Source: Yahoo Sports
