Pakistan declare at 434-9, Sri Lanka 114-3 at close of day two in Rawalpindi

Pakistan declared their first innings at 434-9 on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi. The innings lasted 106.3 overs, and Pakistan added 153 runs on the day before the declaration.

Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 from 199 deliveries. He was caught behind by Kusal Mendis off Asitha Fernando, seven runs short of a fifth Test century. He and Ghazi Ghori added 96 runs for the sixth wicket. Ghori made 48 from 72 balls before he was caught by Pasindu Sooriyabandara off Dilshan Madushanka.

Arafat Minhas, on Test debut, scored 52 from 72 balls before being caught by Dhananjaya de Silva off Madushanka. According to Daily Pakistan Urdu, Pakistan were 390-6 at tea, with Shakeel on 91 and Minhas on 27. On the opening day, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Babar Azam had made half-centuries after Sri Lanka chose to field.

For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando took 3-107 and Dilshan Madushanka 3-108. Lahiru Kumara took 1-104 and Milan Rathnayaka 1-72.

Sri Lanka then lost early wickets. Mohammad Abbas dismissed Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a duck in the third over. Debutant Saqib Khan had Dinesh Chandimal caught by Agha Salman, leaving Sri Lanka 12-2.

Kamindu Mendis and Lahiru Udara put on 53 for the third wicket before Saqib Khan removed Udara, caught by Ghazi Ghori, for 42 off 52 balls. Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva then added an unbroken 49 for the fourth wicket. Daily Pakistan reported Kamindu on 40 and de Silva on 22 at the close.

Bad light brought stumps early, with Sri Lanka on 114-3, trailing by 320 runs with seven wickets in hand. Saqib Khan finished with 2-54 in 10.1 overs.

Speaking about his dismissal, Saud Shakeel said: "It really hurts you when you get out without achieving a milestone. I had no plan to play quick but the ball I received was a bit faster off the pitch and I responded a bit slow which resulted in my dismissal."