Five Pakistan batters, including three debutants, scored half-centuries as the hosts declared their first innings at 434-9 on the second day of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan made a confident start on the second day, with Saud Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori adding valuable runs to take the hosts past the 300-run mark.The duo also brought up a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket, putting the Sri Lankan bowling attack under pressure. Ghazi gradually grew in confidence and began scoring freely alongside Shakeel after initially struggling to negotiate the deliveries.
However, their 96-run partnership was eventually broken by Dilshan Madushanka, who dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi. The latter fell just two runs short of his maiden Test half-century, scoring 48 off 72 deliveries, including two boundaries, leaving Pakistan at 349-6 in 88.1 overs.
Arafat Minhas then joined Shakeel at the crease and announced his arrival in Test cricket in style, regularly finding the boundary while building a valuable partnership with the experienced batter.
The pair added 44 runs for the seventh wicket, with Shakeel closing in on his first Test century in nearly two years.
However, the middle-order batter fell seven runs short of the milestone as Asitha Fernando dismissed him for an impressive 93 off 199 deliveries, including nine boundaries. His departure left Pakistan at 393-7 in 100.2 overs.
