Saud Shakeel's Heartbreaking 97! Pakistan and Sri Lanka Share the Spoils in Rawalpindi Battle Produces No Winner
Pakistan and Sri Lanka finished their opening Test in Rawalpindi with a draw after five days of competitive cricket, but the final day's biggest talking point was Saud Shakeel's heartbreaking dismissal just three runs short of a century. The left-handed batter produced another determined performance, scoring 97 from 210 deliveries, before Lahiru Kumara bowled him to prevent Pakistan from finishing their second innings with a personal milestone.
Pakistan declared at 284-8 after batting for 84.5 overs on the fifth day, setting Sri Lanka a theoretical target of 273 runs to win. However, with limited time remaining, both teams agreed to a draw at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The result came after a fascinating contest in which Pakistan posted 434-9 declared in their first innings, Sri Lanka responded with 446, and the hosts fought back in their second innings to establish an overall lead of 272 runs. Neither side managed to force a victory, but the match delivered several outstanding individual performances.
Saud Shakeel was among Pakistan's most reliable batters throughout the contest, finishing with scores of 93 and 97. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis produced magnificent centuries in the first innings, while Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan delivered one of the match's most remarkable bowling performances with seven wickets for 130 runs.
The Rawalpindi Test may not have produced a winner, but it provided plenty of cricketing drama, impressive batting partnerships and a memorable debut performance.
🏏 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Final Match Result
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw after Pakistan declared their second innings at 284-8 in 84.5 overs.
Pakistan had started the final day at 57-1, carrying an overall lead of 45 runs. The hosts gradually extended that advantage through contributions from Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori and Arafat Minhas.
Shakeel came close to completing a century, but Kumara produced the decisive delivery, bowling the left-hander for 97. Pakistan eventually declared with eight wickets down, and the two teams agreed to end the match without attempting a final-day chase.
<escape>Final scorecard:</escape>
Pakistan: 434/9 declared and 284/8 declared
Sri Lanka: 446 all out
Result: Match drawn
Player of the Match: Saqib Khan (Pakistan), 7/130
Sri Lanka secured a 12-run first-innings advantage after bowling Pakistan out of their scoring position, but the hosts responded with a determined second innings. Pakistan's declaration left the visitors with a substantial target, yet the remaining time was insufficient for a realistic chase.
💔 Saud Shakeel Falls Just Three Runs Short of a Century
Saud Shakeel was once again Pakistan's most dependable batter, but the final innings ended in disappointment when he was dismissed for 97.
The left-hander faced 210 deliveries and struck seven boundaries during an innings built around patience, concentration and disciplined shot selection. With Pakistan looking to establish a substantial lead, Shakeel played the role of an anchor while wickets fell at the other end.
His dismissal was particularly frustrating because he had already scored 93 in Pakistan's first innings. A second score in the nineties would have been an outstanding achievement, and he came extremely close to completing a century that would have capped an impressive match.
Lahiru Kumara eventually broke his resistance with a delivery that bowled him. The dismissal ended Shakeel's innings at 97 and brought Pakistan's second innings to a close at 284-8 after the declaration.
Shakeel's contribution was nevertheless significant. His 97 helped Pakistan move from a vulnerable position towards a commanding overall lead. He also demonstrated the value of occupying the crease in Test cricket, particularly when a team needs to recover from early wickets.
Across both innings, Shakeel scored 190 runs, making him one of the leading contributors in the match. Although he missed out on a century twice, his consistency was central to Pakistan's batting effort.
🤝 Ghazi Ghori and Saud Shakeel Build a Crucial Partnership
One of the most important partnerships of Pakistan's second innings came between Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori.
Pakistan had lost several important wickets after resuming the final day at 57-1. The top order struggled to establish a strong foundation, and Sri Lanka's bowlers were able to put pressure on the middle order.
Shakeel and Ghori responded by building a valuable 92-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Their stand helped Pakistan move beyond the immediate danger of another collapse and pushed the overall lead past 200 runs.
Ghori contributed 35 from 69 deliveries, including three boundaries. Although he did not reach a half-century, his innings was important because it gave Shakeel support and allowed Pakistan to continue building their advantage.
Milan Rathnayake eventually ended the partnership by dismissing Ghori. His wicket gave Sri Lanka an opportunity to attack the remaining batters, but Pakistan had already moved into a stronger position.
The partnership was a major turning point in the second innings. Without that stand, Pakistan could have struggled to establish a lead large enough to make Sri Lanka uncomfortable.
🔥 Arafat Minhas Adds Valuable Runs Before Dhananjaya de Silva Strikes
After Ghazi Ghori's dismissal, Arafat Minhas joined Shakeel and helped Pakistan continue their recovery.
The pair added 44 runs, taking the hosts beyond the 250-run mark and strengthening their overall position. Minhas scored 16 from 29 deliveries, hitting three boundaries before Dhananjaya de Silva ended his innings.
De Silva's wicket was another important moment for Sri Lanka. The visitors were trying to prevent Pakistan from extending the lead further, and removing Minhas gave them a chance to restrict the declaration total.
Razaullah remained unbeaten on six as Pakistan eventually declared at 284-8.
The lower-order contributions were important in the context of the match. Pakistan did not need every batter to produce a major score; they needed enough partnerships to create a difficult target and leave Sri Lanka with limited time.
⚡ Pakistan's Top Order Suffers Early Setbacks on Final Day
Pakistan began the fifth day with a lead of 45 runs and nine wickets in hand, but the early stages of the innings did not go according to plan.
Azan Awais and Tayyab Arif had provided the opening partnership before the close of play on day four, but the situation changed quickly on the final morning.
Tayyab Arif was dismissed for 11, giving Pakistan an early setback. Azan Awais followed after scoring 22 from 66 deliveries, with Lahiru Kumara claiming his wicket.
Mohammad Taha was then dismissed for 24 by Asitha Fernando, leaving Pakistan under pressure. The visitors had removed three important batters, and the match was beginning to move towards a potentially interesting final-day contest.
Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel needed to rebuild the innings. They responded with a 50-run partnership, giving Pakistan some stability after the early losses.
However, Milan Rathnayake broke through by dismissing Babar for 34. Rathnayake also removed Salman Ali Agha for 13, leaving Pakistan at 125-5.
At that stage, Sri Lanka had a genuine opportunity to restrict Pakistan's lead. The subsequent partnership between Shakeel and Ghori changed the direction of the innings and ensured that the hosts regained control.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Take a 12-Run First-Innings Lead
Sri Lanka's first innings was one of the strongest batting performances of the match. After Pakistan declared at 434-9, the visitors were initially in trouble but recovered through an outstanding partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis.
Sri Lanka lost early wickets and were reduced to 12-2. Pasindu Sooriyabandara was dismissed without scoring, while Dinesh Chandimal managed only one run.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis helped stabilise the innings, but Pakistan continued to create pressure. Udara scored 42 before being dismissed, while Kamindu contributed a valuable 58 from 131 deliveries.
The real turning point came when Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis came together. Their partnership transformed Sri Lanka's position and placed the visitors in a commanding position.
De Silva scored 167 from 246 deliveries, striking 20 boundaries. Kusal Mendis made 119 from 202 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes.
The pair added a remarkable 249 runs, taking Sri Lanka from a difficult position to a total that threatened to give them a significant advantage.
Their partnership demonstrated the importance of patience and composure in Test cricket. Instead of allowing Pakistan's early wickets to dictate the innings, both batters built their scores carefully and punished loose deliveries.
Pakistan eventually fought back and dismissed Sri Lanka for 446 in 117.2 overs, giving the visitors a first-innings lead of 12 runs.
🌟 Saqib Khan's Seven-Wicket Haul Becomes a Major Highlight
Although the match ended in a draw, Pakistan's debutant Saqib Khan produced one of the most memorable performances of the contest.
The right-arm bowler claimed seven wickets for 130 runs in 34 overs, playing a major role in preventing Sri Lanka from building an even larger first-innings total.
His victims included Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis and several lower-order batters. Removing both set batters was especially important because their partnership had taken Sri Lanka beyond 400 runs.
Saqib's contribution became even more impressive considering the conditions and the quality of the opposition's batting. De Silva and Kusal had looked comfortable during their long partnership, but Saqib helped Pakistan break through when the wickets were most needed.
Mohammad Abbas also contributed with two wickets, while Razaullah claimed one.
Saqib's seven-wicket performance earned him the Player of the Match award. It was a memorable way to make an impression in Test cricket, and his performance will be one of the biggest positives Pakistan can take from the opening match.
🇵🇰 Pakistan's First Innings: Five Half-Centuries Build a Strong Total
Pakistan's first innings provided a solid foundation for the match. The hosts declared at 434-9 after 106.3 overs, with five batters reaching half-centuries.
Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 from 199 deliveries, while Tayyab Arif made an impressive 57 from just 51 balls. Mohammad Taha contributed 51 from 105 deliveries, and Babar Azam scored 50 from 58 balls.
Arafat Minhas added another valuable 52 from 72 deliveries, giving Pakistan further batting depth. Ghazi Ghori also played a useful innings of 48 from 72 balls.
The distribution of runs was important. Rather than relying on one batter to carry the entire innings, Pakistan received contributions from several positions in the batting order.
Tayyab's attacking half-century helped establish early momentum, while Shakeel and Taha provided stability. Babar's 50 added further value, and Minhas strengthened the total with his lower-middle-order contribution.
Pakistan's declaration at 434-9 gave their bowlers a competitive total to defend. Although Sri Lanka eventually moved ahead by 12 runs, the first innings remained a strong batting effort from the hosts.
📊 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Key Match Performances
The Rawalpindi Test featured several standout individual contributions from both teams.
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Saqib Khan (Pakistan) | 7/130 |
| Saud Shakeel (Pakistan) | 93 and 97 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka) | 167 |
| Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 119 |
| Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 58 |
| Ghazi Ghori (Pakistan) | 48 and 35 |
| Arafat Minhas (Pakistan) | 52 and 16 |
| Babar Azam (Pakistan) | 50 and 34 |
Saqib Khan's bowling was the defining performance, while Shakeel's two innings demonstrated his importance to Pakistan's batting line-up. Sri Lanka's centuries from De Silva and Kusal were equally important in securing the first-innings lead.
🧠 Cricketory Insights and Analysis
The Rawalpindi Test ended without a winner, but the match revealed several important points about both teams.
For Pakistan, the biggest positive was the performance of Saqib Khan. Taking seven wickets on Test debut is a significant achievement, particularly against a batting line-up that included players capable of occupying the crease for long periods. His ability to remove De Silva and Kusal after their massive partnership showed that he could provide Pakistan with an important wicket-taking option.
The second major positive was Saud Shakeel's consistency. Scoring 93 in the first innings and 97 in the second is an excellent return, even though he missed out on a century on both occasions. His innings demonstrated why technically sound middle-order batters remain essential in Test cricket. When early wickets fall, players like Shakeel can absorb pressure and give the team time to rebuild.
Pakistan will also want to examine their top-order performance on the final day. Losing wickets to Kumara, Fernando and Rathnayake meant the hosts could not accelerate their innings as smoothly as they might have hoped. The middle-order recovery prevented the situation from becoming more difficult, but Pakistan will want greater consistency from the top order in the next match.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, can take considerable confidence from their first-innings batting. De Silva and Kusal Mendis produced a partnership of 249 runs after the visitors had been reduced to 12-2. That recovery was a strong demonstration of their ability to handle pressure away from home.
The visitors also showed that their bowling attack could challenge Pakistan's batters. Rathnayake took three wickets in the second innings, while Kumara and Fernando claimed two each. Kumara's dismissal of Shakeel for 97 was particularly important because it prevented Pakistan's most established batter from completing a century.
However, Sri Lanka will also recognise that their early batting collapse could have cost them more. Losing two wickets for 12 runs placed immediate pressure on the middle order, and the recovery depended heavily on the contributions of De Silva, Kusal and Kamindu.
The final-day declaration was a practical decision. Pakistan had established a 272-run lead, but the remaining time did not offer a realistic opportunity to force a result through a chase. Continuing to bat for an extended period would have reduced the already limited time available to Sri Lanka.
Ultimately, the draw reflected a match in which both sides had periods of control. Pakistan's first-innings batting and Saqib's bowling were major positives, while Sri Lanka's middle-order recovery and strong first-innings total ensured they remained competitive.
For Cricketory, the key takeaway is that Pakistan have discovered an encouraging bowling performance from a debutant, but their batting consistency and ability to turn promising positions into match-winning situations remain important areas to watch.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What was the result of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 2026?
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi ended in a draw on November 13, 2026.
2. What was Pakistan's final score in the second innings?
Pakistan declared their second innings at 284-8 after batting for 84.5 overs.
3. Why did Pakistan and Sri Lanka settle for a draw?
Pakistan had established an overall lead of 272 runs, but there was insufficient time remaining for Sri Lanka to attempt a realistic chase. Both teams agreed to a draw.
4. How many runs did Saud Shakeel score in the second innings?
Saud Shakeel scored 97 from 210 deliveries, including seven boundaries. He was dismissed by Lahiru Kumara just three runs short of a century.
5. How many runs did Saud Shakeel score in the entire Test?
Shakeel scored 93 in Pakistan's first innings and 97 in the second, giving him a match aggregate of 190 runs.
6. Who was named Player of the Match?
Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan received the Player of the Match award after taking seven wickets for 130 runs in Sri Lanka's first innings.
7. How many runs did Dhananjaya de Silva score?
Dhananjaya de Silva scored 167 from 246 deliveries in Sri Lanka's first innings, including 20 boundaries.
8. How did Kusal Mendis perform in the Rawalpindi Test?
Kusal Mendis scored 119 from 202 deliveries, including 10 fours and four sixes. He shared a 249-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva.
9. What was Sri Lanka's first-innings total?
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 446 in 117.2 overs, giving them a 12-run first-innings lead over Pakistan.
10. How many wickets did Saqib Khan take on his Test debut?
Saqib Khan claimed seven wickets for 130 runs in 34 overs, making a major contribution to Pakistan's effort to dismiss Sri Lanka.
🏁 Final Thoughts
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi delivered five days of competitive cricket but ultimately ended without a winner. Pakistan declared at 284-8 in their second innings, with Saud Shakeel falling just three runs short of a century after another impressive display.
Sri Lanka's first-innings recovery, led by Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, ensured that the visitors remained in the contest. Pakistan responded through Saqib Khan's outstanding seven-wicket haul and valuable batting contributions from Shakeel and the middle order.
For Pakistan, Saqib's debut performance and Shakeel's consistency will be the biggest positives. For Sri Lanka, the centuries from De Silva and Kusal demonstrated the strength of their batting when the team needed a recovery.
Neither side managed to secure victory, but both have plenty to take from the contest. The Rawalpindi draw has provided a competitive start to the series, with the performances of Saqib Khan and Saud Shakeel likely to remain among the major talking points.
Stay connected with Cricketory for Pakistan cricket news, Sri Lanka tour updates, Test match reports, player performances and expert cricket analysis.