Mohsin Ali
RAWALPINDI: Half-centuries from debutants Tayyab Arif and Mohammad Taha, captain Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel guided Pakistan to 281-5 at stumps on the first day of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Asked to bat first, Pakistan began positively through openers Azan Awais and Tayyab, who showed confidence against the Sri Lankan attack and punished loose bowling with regular boundaries.
The opening stand gave Pakistan early control as the pair took the score past 50 in the initial stages of the first session. Tayyab, playing his first international match, looked composed and went on to register his maiden Test half-century.
Sri Lanka made their first breakthrough in the 16th over when Milan Rathnayake removed Azan for 30 off 35 balls, an innings that included seven fours. The visitors struck again in the next over, with Asitha Fernando dismissing Tayyab for a brisk 57 off 51 deliveries, including nine fours and a six.
After the two quick wickets, Babar joined fellow debutant Mohammad Taha and the pair rebuilt the innings without allowing the scoring rate to stall. Pakistan moved beyond 100 in the 21st over.
At lunch, Pakistan were 137-2 in 30 overs, with Babar unbeaten on 31 off 39 balls, including four boundaries, and Taha on 15 off 42 deliveries.
Babar and Taha added 69 runs for the third wicket and took Pakistan past 150 before Dilshan Madushanka struck. Babar was dismissed shortly after completing his 35th Test half-century, making 50 off 58 balls with seven fours as Pakistan slipped to 159-3.
Saud Shakeel then joined Taha and the two left-handers steadied the innings with another useful stand. Their partnership helped Pakistan cross the 200-run mark in the 49th over.
Taha maintained his composure and completed a half-century on debut, but Sonal Dinusha ended the 68-run fourth-wicket partnership in the 56th over. Taha departed for 51 off 105 balls, having struck six boundaries.
Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha then carried Pakistan past 250 before Fernando returned to claim his second wicket, dismissing Agha for 16 off 22 deliveries.
Shakeel continued to bat with assurance and brought up his 12th Test half-century as Pakistan strengthened their position. Bad light forced an early close to the opening day, with Shakeel unbeaten on 57 off 112 balls, including seven fours, while Ghazi Ghori was not out on seven off 10 deliveries.
