A dramatic morning collapse engineered by debutant pacer Saqib Khan revived Pakistan’s fortunes on Day 4 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, November 12. After centuries from Dhananjaya de Silva (167) and captain Kusal Mendis (119) had powered Sri Lanka to 446—securing a slender 12-run first-innings advantage—Saqib’s sensational figures of 7/130 prevented the visitors from building a match-defining lead.
Saqib Khan’s morning blitz halts Sri Lanka’s charge
By the time bad light and persistent rain forced an early close midway through the afternoon session at 3:05 PM local time, Pakistan had reached 57/1 in 21.2 overs in their second innings, establishing a 45-run lead heading into the final day.
Resuming the fourth morning in a commanding position at 404/4, trailing Pakistan’s 434/9 declared by just 30 runs—Sri Lanka appeared poised to bat the hosts out of the contest. Overnight centurions Dhananjaya de Silva (167*) and Kusal Mendis (117*) had dominated the entirety of Day 3, stitching together a record-breaking 249-run fifth-wicket partnership—Sri Lanka’s highest stand for that wicket against Pakistan, after rescuing their side from a precarious 155/4.
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Kusal Mendis nips on Dhananjaya de Silva's heels with splendid 119
However, heavy cloud cover and lively morning conditions transformed the Rawalpindi surface, and Saqib Khan exploited the lateral movement to perfection. Having already picked up two wickets earlier in the innings, the 31-year-old right-arm quick struck early to break the marathon stand, dismissing De Silva without the batter adding to his overnight score of 167 (241 balls, 20 fours). Shortly afterward, Saqib removed newly appointed skipper Kusal Mendis for a fluent 119 (10 fours, 4 sixes), abruptly ending Sri Lanka’s control over the match.
Saqib Khan runs riot on Sri Lanka batters
Once the two set batters departed, Sri Lanka’s lower middle order and tail crumbled against incisive swing and disciplined seam bowling. Debutant Sonal Dinusha, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, and Dilshan Madushanka offered minimal resistance as Saqib tore through the batting order, wrapping up his spell with 7/130—becoming only the fourth Pakistani bowler (after Mohammad Nazir, Mohammad Zahid, and Abrar Ahmed) to claim seven wickets in an innings on Test debut. Fellow debutant pacer Razaullah eventually closed out the innings in the 118th over by having Milan Rathnayake caught at deep backward square leg by Tayyab Arif, leaving Sri Lanka all out for 446. In all, Sri Lanka lost their final six wickets for just 42 runs during a breathless morning session.
Armed with renewed momentum and trailing by only 12 runs, Pakistan’s openers walked out for their second innings before lunch. Sri Lanka struck an early blow in the third over when Asitha Fernando—fresh from reaching the milestone of 100 Test wickets in the first innings—dismissed opener Mohammad Tayyab Arif with the score on 15.
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Despite the early setback, 21-year-old left-handed opener Azan Awais and fellow debutant Mohammad Taha Khan weathered the new-ball burst from Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka with composure. Sri Lanka squandered a golden opportunity to break the partnership when Awais, batting on 17, edged a delivery from Lahiru Kumara behind the stumps, only for wicketkeeper-captain Kusal Mendis to put down a low diving chance to his left.
Awais capitalised on the reprieve to reach 22 not out off 65 balls (three fours), while Taha—who had notched a half-century in the first innings—looked assured in compiling an unbeaten 24 off 55 deliveries. The pair added an unbroken 42 runs for the second wicket, wiping out the 12-run deficit and pushing Pakistan to 57/1.
Rain and Bad Light Leave Match Poised for final-day push
As the afternoon progressed, darkening skies over Rawalpindi prompted on-field umpires Rod Tucker and Adrian Holdstock to check the light meter. Play was halted at 3:05 PM due to bad light, and subsequent rain prevented any further action for the remainder of the day.
With nearly 100 overs already lost to inclement weather and poor light across the first four days, the opening Test appears headed toward a draw unless an extraordinary bowling collapse unfolds on Day 5. Still, Saqib Khan’s heroic debut spell has ensured Pakistan enter the final day on the front foot with a 45-run cushion and nine wickets intact.