Pakistan started the fourth day with just one wicket to their name. Sri Lanka were looking to build a big lead, but Saqib struck in the first over to remove Dhananjaya de Silva. De Silva, who had scored 167, edged an away-swinging delivery to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori. Saqib continued to trouble the batters with his line and length under cloudy conditions.
Kusal Mendis, unbeaten on 117 overnight, managed to add only two more runs before edging another delivery to Ghori. Saud Shakeel had dropped an earlier chance at first slip in the same over. Sonal Dinusha also fell to Saqib after scoring 20. He attempted a big cover drive but sent the ball to the cordon. The dismissal gave Saqib his maiden five-wicket haul in his first bowling innings in Test cricket.
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Saqib Finishes With Seven Wickets As Sri Lanka Lose Momentum
Saqib continued his impressive spell against the lower order. He dismissed Asitha Fernando with another catch behind the wicket before trapping Lahiru Kumara lbw just before the drinks break. Meanwhile, Razaullah dismissed Milan Rathnayaka, completing Sri Lanka’s innings. They lost their final six wickets for just 42 runs.
Saqib finished with figures of 7/130 in the innings. His seven-wicket haul is the fourth-best innings return by a Pakistan bowler on Test debut. Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir and Abrar Ahmed had also taken seven wickets in an innings on debut. However, all three conceded fewer runs than Saqib.
34 overs • 5 maidens • 130 runs
BOWLING MAP · LINE, LENGTH & WICKET ZONE
WICKET IMPACT
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MATCH IMPACT 34-5-130-7 · ECO 3.82
Pakistan Begin Chase After Losing Tayyab Arif
Pakistan had conceded a first-innings lead of just 12 runs after bowling Sri Lanka out. However, they lost debutant Tayyab Arif early in their second innings. Asitha Fernando provided Sri Lanka with their best spell before lunch, picking up the wicket. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha faced some challenging spells from the Sri Lankan quicks. Pakistan reached lunch at 16/1, with Awais on 16 and Taha unbeaten on 12. The visitors will look to build a solid partnership as they aim to take control of the Test.
Instances of Pakistan Pacers Taking All 10 Wickets in a Test Innings Against Sri Lanka
01
Sialkot, 19851st Innings
02
Sialkot, 19852nd Innings
03
Faisalabad, 19922nd Innings
04
Kandy, 19941st Innings
05
Lahore, 20021st Innings
06
Rawalpindi, 20261st InningsThis Innings*
Best Bowling Figures in Rawalpindi in a Test Innings
7/66
Mohammad Zahid · Pakistanvs New Zealand · 1996
7/102
Keshav Maharaj · South Africavs Pakistan · 2025
7/130
Saqib Khan · Pakistanvs Sri Lanka · 2026This Innings*
6/42
Noman Ali · Pakistanvs England · 2024
6/50
Simon Harmer · South Africavs Pakistan · 2025
Best Bowling Figures for Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in a Test Innings
8/58
Imran KhanLahore · 1982
7/70
Noman AliColombo (SSC) · 2023
7/76
Yasir ShahGalle · 2015
7/118
Danish KaneriaKarachi · 2004
7/130
Saqib KhanRawalpindi · 2026This Innings*
6/34
Waqar YounisKandy · 1994
Best Bowling Figures for Pacers in an Innings in Debut Test Match at Home
7/29
Kyle Abbott · South Africavs Pakistan · Centurion · 2013
7/43
Dominic Cork · Englandvs West Indies · Lord’s · 1995
7/45
Gus Atkinson · Englandvs West Indies · Lord’s · 2024
7/49
Alec Bedser · Englandvs India · Lord’s · 1946
7/63
Alf Hall · South Africavs England · Cape Town · 1923
7/66
Mohammad Zahid · Pakistanvs New Zealand · Rawalpindi · 1996
7/81
Marchant de Lange · South Africavs Sri Lanka · Durban · 2011
7/95
Gobo Ashley · South Africavs England · Cape Town · 1889
7/130
Saqib Khan · Pakistanvs Sri Lanka · Rawalpindi · 2026This Innings*
Most Catches as Wicketkeeper vs Sri Lanka in a Test Innings
7
Ian Smith · New ZealandHamilton · 1991
6
Mark Boucher · South AfricaCape Town · 1998
6
Mark Boucher · South AfricaCenturion · 2011
6
BJ Watling · New ZealandDunedin · 2015
6
Ghazi Ghori · PakistanRawalpindi · 2026This Innings*
Most Catches as Wicketkeeper for Pakistan in a Test Innings
7
Wasim Barivs New Zealand · Auckland · 1979
6
Rashid Latifvs Zimbabwe · Bulawayo · 1998
6
Adnan Akmalvs New Zealand · Wellington · 2011
6
Mohammad Rizwanvs South Africa · Cape Town · 2025
6
Ghazi Ghorivs Sri Lanka · Rawalpindi · 2026This Innings*
Best Bowling Figures in an Innings in a Debut Test Match at Home
8/43
Albert Trott · Australiavs England · Adelaide · 1895
8/61
Narendra Hirwani · Indiavs West Indies · Chennai · 1988 (1st Innings)
8/75
Narendra Hirwani · Indiavs West Indies · Chennai · 1988 (2nd Innings)
7/29
Kyle Abbott · South Africavs Pakistan · Centurion · 2013
7/43
Dominic Cork · Englandvs West Indies · Lord’s · 1995
7/45
Gus Atkinson · Englandvs West Indies · Lord’s · 2024
7/49
Alec Bedser · Englandvs India · Lord’s · 1946
7/55
Tom Kendall · Australiavs England · Melbourne · 1877
7/56
James Langridge · Englandvs West Indies · Manchester · 1933
7/63
Alf Hall · South Africavs England · Cape Town · 1923
7/66
Mohammad Zahid · Pakistanvs New Zealand · Rawalpindi · 1996
7/81
Marchant de Lange · South Africavs Sri Lanka · Durban · 2011
7/95
Gobo Ashley · South Africavs England · Cape Town · 1889
7/99
Mohammad Nazir · Pakistanvs New Zealand · Karachi · 1969
7/114
Abrar Ahmed · Pakistanvs England · Multan · 2022
7/130
Saqib Khan · Pakistanvs Sri Lanka · Rawalpindi · 2026This Innings*
Best Bowling Figures for Pakistan in an Innings in a Debut Test Match
7/66
Mohammad Zahidvs New Zealand · Rawalpindi · 1996
7/99
Mohammad Nazirvs New Zealand · Karachi · 1969
7/114
Abrar Ahmedvs England · Multan · 2022
7/130
Saqib Khanvs Sri Lanka · Rawalpindi · 2026This Innings*
6/36
Bilal Asifvs Australia · Dubai (DICS) · 2018
6/79
Asif Afridivs South Africa · Rawalpindi · 2025
6/89
Arif Buttvs Australia · Melbourne · 1964
6/111
Aamer Jamalvs Australia · Perth · 2023
6/120
Tanvir Ahmedvs South Africa · Abu Dhabi · 2010
Highest Partnerships for Any Wicket for Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in Tests
437
Mahela Jayawardene & Thilan SamaraweeraKarachi · 2009 · 4th Wicket
335
Marvan Atapattu & Sanath JayasuriyaKandy · 2000 · 1st Wicket
249
Dhananjaya de Silva & Kusal MendisRawalpindi · 2026 · 5th WicketThis Innings*
240*
Asanka Gurusinha & Arjuna RanatungaColombo (PSS) · 1986 · 4th Wicket
225
Tillakaratne Dilshan & Kumar SangakkaraColombo (SSC) · 2012 · 2nd Wicket
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