Key points
- Pakistan declared their first innings at 434/9 on Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi on November 10, 2026.
- Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 from 199 balls, while Arafat Minhas scored 52 and Ghazi Ghori made 48.
- Test debutant Saqib Khan took 2/54, dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for one and Lahiru Udara for 42.
- Mohammad Abbas took the other wicket to fall on Day 2, removing Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck.
- Sri Lanka reached 114/3 in 27.1 overs at stumps, trailing Pakistan by 320 runs in the first innings.
- Kamindu Mendis was unbeaten on 40 and Dhananjaya de Silva on 22 when bad light ended play 25 minutes early.
Pakistan's new-ball attack put Sri Lanka under pressure on the second day of the opening Test in Rawalpindi, with debutant fast bowler Saqib Khan taking two wickets to help reduce the visitors to 114/3 at stumps on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Pakistan had earlier declared at 434/9, leaving Sri Lanka 320 runs behind after 27.1 overs of their first innings.
Saqib finished the day with figures of 2/54, dismissing Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Udara after Mohammad Abbas had removed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara. Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva were unbeaten at the close, having steadied the innings after the early setbacks. Bad light brought play to an end 25 minutes before the scheduled close.
Saud Shakeel leads Pakistan to 434
Pakistan resumed the day at 281/5, with Saud Shakeel unbeaten on 57 and wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori on seven. The pair extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 96 runs, taking the hosts beyond 300 and frustrating Sri Lanka's seam attack during the morning session.
Ghori made 48 before edging Dilshan Madushanka to gully, where Pasindu Sooriyabandara took the catch. Shakeel continued to anchor the innings but fell seven runs short of a century, dismissed for 93 from 199 balls by Asitha Fernando. His innings included nine boundaries and was the highest score of Pakistan's innings.
Debutant Arafat Minhas added a valuable 52 from 72 deliveries, striking nine fours and a six. Pakistan eventually declared at 434/9 after 106.3 overs. Fernando and Madushanka were Sri Lanka's leading wicket-takers, claiming three wickets apiece.
Saqib makes an impact on Test debut
Pakistan made early inroads when Sri Lanka began their reply. Abbas struck first, having Sooriyabandara caught behind for a duck in the third over. Saqib then removed Chandimal for one in his second over, with Salman Ali Agha completing the catch, as Sri Lanka slipped to 12/2.
Udara and Mendis attempted to rebuild with a 53-run partnership. Udara scored 42 from 52 balls, including seven fours, before Saqib returned to break the stand and leave Sri Lanka at 65/3. The wicket gave the debutant his second success of the innings and completed a productive day with the ball.
Saqib's figures of 2/54 came from 10.1 overs. Abbas supported him with 1/23 from nine overs, including four maidens. The early wickets ensured that Pakistan carried a substantial advantage into the final session, even as the Sri Lankan middle order began to resist.
Mendis and de Silva steady Sri Lanka
After Udara's dismissal, Kamindu Mendis was joined by Dhananjaya de Silva. The pair negotiated the remainder of the day without losing another wicket and added an unbeaten partnership of 49. Mendis was 40 not out from 78 balls, while de Silva had made 22 from 28 deliveries at the close.
Sri Lanka reached 114/3 in 27.1 overs, still trailing by 320 runs. The visitors had seven first-innings wickets remaining, but needed a substantial partnership on the third morning to reduce the deficit and avoid allowing Pakistan to dictate the match situation.
Play ended early because of bad light, with 25 minutes remaining in the scheduled day. It was the second successive day in which conditions had interrupted the planned schedule at Rawalpindi.
Debutants shape Pakistan's first-innings effort
The match has been notable for Pakistan's new faces. Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas and Saqib Khan all made their Test debuts in the opening match of the series. Tayyab scored 57, Taha made 51, and Minhas added 52, giving Pakistan three half-centuries from debutants in the first innings.
Those contributions complemented Babar Azam's 50 and Shakeel's 93. Pakistan's total of 434/9 declared was built through several partnerships rather than one dominant stand, with the lower order adding enough runs to give the bowlers a strong platform.
Pakistan hold the advantage heading into Day 3
At the end of Day 2, Pakistan were firmly positioned after scoring 434 and taking three Sri Lankan wickets. The 320-run first-innings lead gives the home side room to apply pressure, while Sri Lanka must focus on batting time and building partnerships when play resumes.
The first Test is scheduled for November 9 to 13 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the second and final match of the series set to begin in Lahore on November 17. Pakistan will look to extend its advantage on the third day, while Mendis and de Silva carry the responsibility of rebuilding Sri Lanka's innings.
Frequently asked questions
How did Saqib Khan perform on his Test debut against Sri Lanka?
Saqib Khan took two wickets for 54 runs as Sri Lanka reached 114/3 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test in Rawalpindi. He dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for one and Lahiru Udara for 42, giving Pakistan important breakthroughs after their declaration.
What was Pakistan's score against Sri Lanka on Day 2?
Pakistan declared their first innings at 434/9 after 106.3 overs on the second day. Saud Shakeel led the scoring with 93 from 199 balls, while Arafat Minhas made 52 and Ghazi Ghori scored 48 in support of the Pakistan batting effort.
What was Sri Lanka's score at the end of Day 2?
Sri Lanka were 114/3 after 27.1 overs at stumps on the second day in Rawalpindi. They remained 320 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings total of 434/9, with Kamindu Mendis unbeaten on 40 and Dhananjaya de Silva on 22.
Who dismissed Dinesh Chandimal in the first Test?
Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for one run. Chandimal was caught by Salman Ali Agha in Saqib's second over, leaving Sri Lanka under early pressure in their first-innings reply.
When and where is the Pakistan versus Sri Lanka first Test being played?
The first Test of Sri Lanka's 2026-27 tour of Pakistan is being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13, 2026. The second and final Test is scheduled to begin in Lahore on November 17, according to the series schedule.