Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Match — Ball-by-Ball Commentary
Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2026 · TEST
Match Drawn
Completed
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Ball by Ball Commentary
- Update
Pitch Report, by Aamer Sohail and Bazid Khan: This is an attractive surface, and it’s settling well. We all recognize that when you arrive in Rawalpindi on the third day, these pitches perform at their peak. What I observe already is that the grass is wilting, in fact, and the hue is shifting. With Sri Lanka applying a heavy roller, they have removed the sharpness from the surface, and they plan to utilize it again. Therefore, I believe this will stabilize nicely for the batsmen. Yes, there will be some movement for the pace bowlers due to recent rain and the overhead conditions being quite dense, so there might be some initial assistance. If the batsmen can endure, they will relish batting out there. [Effect of overhead conditions on the pitch] We discussed the overhead conditions. The sun isn’t really shining down on this surface; will that influence the surface in any manner? Will there be degradation in terms of inconsistent bounce, or will it simply improve and settle, as you mentioned? Look, one thing is certain: this pitch is not going to become any drier. It won’t become abrasive, and I don’t foresee any possibility of this pitch actually deteriorating. It’s going to improve continuously. So it’ll be a favorable pitch, but what you need to do is get the ball moving early and bowl in the precise areas, around the top of off stump. Aim to take wickets early because, as always, the morning session is crucial.
- Update
08:30 Local Time, 09:00 IST: Hello and welcome to day 3 of this test match. The contest is pretty much equal on both sides. Pakistan, while batting first scored 434 runs, with help from contributions from each batter. Then Lanka came to bat, lost a few early wickets, but Lahiru's 42, Kamindu's 40, and Silva's 22 have carried the innings well from sinking right now; they are sitting at 114/3. Stay tuned to see what action both teams will bring today.
- Update
Session Breakdown | Day 21st Session: 31.4 Overs, 109 Runs, 1 Wicket2nd Session: 19.3 Overs, 86 Runs, 5 Wickets 3rd Session: 15.1 Overs, 72 Runs, 1 Wicket
- Update
4:55pm Ist / 4:25pm LT: Stumps on Day 2. Pakistan ended Day 2 with a 320-run lead after declaring their first innings at 434/9, with Saud Shakeel falling seven runs short of a century and Arafat Minhas contributing a half-century. Sri Lanka finished the day at 114/3, scoring 72 runs in the final 15.1 overs despite losing Lahiru Udara, who fell eight runs short of his half-century. Kamindu Mendis remained unbeaten on 40, while Dhananjaya de Silva was not out on 22. Mohammad Abbas picked up a wicket, while debutant Saqib Khan claimed two. With light bringing an early end to play, Sri Lanka still have a significant task ahead, but the unbeaten partnership between Kamindu and Dhananjaya could make Day 3 crucial for both sides.
- Update
4:50pm Ist / 4:20pm LT: Bad Light Stops Play..!! Light does not seem to be the problem and umpires do not think that it is safe for the batsmen to bowl fast. There does not seem to be any improvement in conditions.
- 27.11
Saqib Khan to Kamindu Mendis
One Run. Fuller ball around middle, strikes it for single run
- 26.60
Arafat Minhas to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Kamindu Mendis was in time in the home crease. Not Out flashes on the big screen. Tossed ball around middle, he pushes it to the bowler back and he hands it while the ball is rolling to non striker's stumps for a run out chance but was failed in it
End of over 27: 1 run · SL 113/3
- Update
Third Umpire run out check
- 26.50
Arafat Minhas to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Flighted ball around off, cuts it to covers for none
- 26.40
Arafat Minhas to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Floated ball onto middle, defends it onto the pitch
- 26.30
Arafat Minhas to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Tossed ball onto middle, taps it to on side for dot
- 26.20
Arafat Minhas to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Tossed ball around off, pushes it to covers for dot
- 26.11
Arafat Minhas to Kamindu Mendis
One Run. Slower delivery around middle and off, hits it for one run
- Bowler
Arafat Minhas
- 25.60
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Fuller ball around middle, plays it for zero
End of over 26: 6 runs · SL 112/3
- 25.50
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Good length throw onto off, strikes it for nothing
- 25.41
Saqib Khan to Kamindu Mendis
One Run. Good length throw onto middle, hits it for single run
- 25.34
Saqib Khan to Kamindu Mendis
Four. Fuller length delivery around off, hits it to the off sided ropes for a boundary
- 25.20
Saqib Khan to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Good length delivery around off, misses for runs on it
- 25.11
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
One Run. Fuller length ball around middle, hits it for single run
- 24.60
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run.
End of over 25: 2 runs · SL 106/3
- 24.52
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
Two Runs. Good length throw onto off, strikes it for couple of runs
- 24.40
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Fuller length ball around off, leaves the ball alone
- 24.30
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Good length bouncer around off, he leaves it alone
- 24.20
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Fuller ball around middle, blocks the ball nicely
- 24.10
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run.
- 23.60
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Good length throw onto off, defends it to the off side for dot
End of over 24: 4 runs · SL 104/3
- 23.50
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Good length delivery around off, misses for runs on it
- 23.40
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Good length throw around middle, tucks it to mid wicket for nothing
- 23.30
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Fuller ball around middle, defends it back to bowler
- 23.22
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
Two Runs. Good length throw around off, strikes the ball for a brace
- 23.12
Saqib Khan to Dhananjaya de Silva
Two Runs. Fuller length delivery around middle, tucks it to the mid wicket for couple of runs
- 22.60
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Fuller length delivery around middle, plays it for no runs
End of over 23: 7 runs · SL 100/3
- Update
Drinks Break and Sri Lanka are at 100/3 in 22.5 overs.
- 22.52
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
Two Runs. Fuller length ball around middle and off, hits it for couple of runs. Lanka are trailing by 334 runs.
- 22.44
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
Four. Length delivery around off stumps, Kamindu Mendis makes the room and confidently carves to the point area for a boundary
- 22.30
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run.
- 22.21
Mohammad Abbas to Dhananjaya de Silva
One Run. Fuller around off, strikes it for one run
- Update
The floodlights are active on the ground
- 22.10
Mohammad Abbas to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Good length ball around middle, defends the ball only
- 21.61
Razaullah to Dhananjaya de Silva
One Run. Good length throw onto middle, hits it for single run
End of over 22: 7 runs · SL 93/3
- 21.52
Razaullah to Dhananjaya de Silva
Two Runs. Fuller length ball onto middle, hits it for couple of runs
- 21.44
Razaullah to Dhananjaya de Silva
Four. Good length delivery around middle, inside edged to the fine leg for a boundary
- 21.30
Razaullah to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Fuller length ball around off, pushes it to the off side for dot ball
- 21.20
Razaullah to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Fuller length delivery around off, let the ball pass to keeper
- 21.10
Razaullah to Dhananjaya de Silva
No Run. Fuller delivery around middle, hits it for dot bal
- 20.60
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Fuller length ball onto off, pushes it to off side for dot
End of over 21: 0 runs · SL 86/3
- 20.50
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Good length throw onto off, shoulder arms to leave it
- 20.40
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Good length angling around off, misses for runs on it
- 20.30
Mohammad Abbas to Kamindu Mendis
No Run. Fuller around off, misses for runs on it