Saqib takes seven on debut as rain curtails Pakistan Test

Saqib Khan took 7 for 130 on his Test debut as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 446 on day four of the first Test in Rawalpindi, giving Pakistan a 12-run first-innings lead. Bad light followed by rain then curtailed play, leaving Pakistan 157 for 1 and 45 runs ahead when play stopped.

The 31-year-old fast bowler led Sri Lanka’s collapse in an overcast morning session. The tourists had resumed at 404 for 4, but lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. Saqib took five wickets in an eight-over spell, including the dismissals of Dhananjaya de Silva for 167 and captain Kusal Mendis for 119. The pair had shared a 249-run stand.

Saqib dismissed Sonal Dinusha for 20 and later took two more wickets, including Asitha Fernando, caught behind by wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori. Razaullah ended the innings by having Milan Rathnayake caught in the deep. Sri Lanka’s 446 left them narrowly ahead of Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434.

Saqib became the fourth Pakistan bowler to take seven wickets in an innings on Test debut, joining Mohammad Nazir, Mohammad Zahid and Abrar Ahmed. He said overcast conditions suited his outswing bowling and that coach Mike Hesson had advised the team to target the off-stump...