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
- 22.40
Asitha Fernando to Saud Shakeel
No Run. Back of length delivery outside off, left it alone
- 22.30
Asitha Fernando to Saud Shakeel
No Run. Fuller delivery on middle, driven it to mid-on
- New Batter
Saud Shakeel — 26 matches, 2006 runs, avg 42.68, SR 50.58
- Wicket
Mohammad Taha 24 (57) — c Kusal Mendis b Asitha Fernando. 4s: 3, 6s: 0, SR: 42.11
- 22.2W
Asitha Fernando to Mohammad Taha
Wicket! Caught By Kusal Mendis. No Run. Good length delivery on middle, Taha looks to defend it but gets a thick outside edge and ball goes straight into the hands of the keeper, where he taken a good diving catch
- 22.10
Asitha Fernando to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Good length delivery on middle, defended it back to bowler
- 21.60
Lahiru Kumara to Babar Azam
No Run. Good length delivery on middle, driven it to covers
End of over 22: 5 runs · PAK 57/2
- 21.50
Lahiru Kumara to Babar Azam
No Run. Good length delivery on middle, defended it to covers
- 21.40
Lahiru Kumara to Babar Azam
No Run.
- New Batter
Babar Azam — 66 matches, 4771 runs, avg 42.98, SR 55.39
- Wicket
Azan Awais 22 (66) — c Kamindu Mendis b Lahiru Kumara. 4s: 3, 6s: 0, SR: 33.33
- 21.3W
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
Wicket! Caught By Kamindu Mendis. No Run. Kumara strikes on the first ball of Day 5. Good length delivery outside off, looks to cut it but gets a thick outside edge, and ball goes straight into the hands of Mendis at 2nd slip where he taken a good catch
- Update
9:30 AM IST, 9:00 AM Local Time: sessions. Only 36.4 overs were possible on Day 4, with rain and bad light playing spoilsport, and this Test is now heading towards a rather dreary draw. Pakistan currently lead by 45 runs with nine wickets in hand. Even without the rain interruptions, bad light has restricted play to a maximum of 70 overs on each day of this test. A draw remains the overwhelming favorite, and it will take something extraordinary from either side to force a result from here. While there wasn't much cricket to speak of yesterday, one man certainly made headlines: 31-year-old debutant Saqib Khan. Bowling an impeccable line and length, he consistently troubled the Sri Lankan batters and finished with impressive figures of 7/130. In doing so, he joined Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir, and Abrar Ahmed as the only Pakistani bowlers to claim a seven-wicket haul on their Test debut. Can someone produce a special performance to bring this test to life today? The weather forecast looks more promising, with sunny intervals expected throughout the day. There won't be an early start, though, with extended first and second sessions scheduled to make up for lost time. Can we finally witness an uninterrupted day of cricket?
- Update
15:10 Local Time, 15:40 IST: STUMPS! Persistent showers have brought an early end to the day, with the officials deciding to call of today's play due to the bad weather. Rawalpindi has witnessed yet another heavily interrupted day, adding to the growing frustration as more than 100 overs have already been washed out during this Test. With only the final day remaining, the chances of producing a decisive outcome appear extremely slim, and a drawn encounter now seems almost inevitable. However, the big question heading into tomorrow is whether Pakistan or Sri Lanka will attempt something extraordinary to force a result, or whether both sides will eventually settle for sharing the honours. Join us again at 9:20 AM as we return with live coverage. Goodbye!
- Update
14:55 Local Time, 15:25 IST: Play has reached the tea break in Rawalpindi, with the ground completely covered as the weather continues to disrupt proceedings. Pakistan enjoyed an excellent morning session, largely thanks to debutant Saqib Khan, whose outstanding spell of 7/130 proved to be the biggest highlight. Both Sri Lankan centurions, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, departed early, triggering a dramatic collapse in the visitors' batting lineup. Saqib maintained remarkable accuracy, consistently troubling the batters with his disciplined bowling and ensuring that Sri Lanka finished their innings with a narrow advantage of just 12 runs. Pakistan suffered an early setback in their second innings when Arif Tayyab was dismissed, but the remaining batters have shown resilience and managed to take their side slightly ahead in the contest.
- Update
14:10 Local Time, 14:40 IST: The big covers are being brought out now, and they are covering the whole ground. The weather has gotten darker, and it looks like we will have a long delay.
- Update
13:50 Local Time, 14:20 IST: It's started to rain now here in Rawalpindi; the covers are here to hide the main pitch. From the visuals, it looks like the weather has turned really dark.
- Update
13:25 Local Time, 13:55 IST: Rod Tucker has decided to stop the game due to bad light, as it is getting really dark now. Bad light stops play.
- 21.21
Lahiru Kumara to Mohammad Taha
One Run. Back of length down to leg side, punches it to deep square leg
- 21.14
Lahiru Kumara to Mohammad Taha
Four. Was a fuller on the middle, Taha drives it passing the mid on for four runs
- Update
Light meters are out; Rod Tuckner is measuring the lights and decided to continue the game.
- 20.60
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Azan Awais
No Run. Good length on the middle, Azan goes for a defense but hits on outside edge straight to slips, ball fall short to him
End of over 21: 0 runs · PAK 52/1
- 20.50
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Azan Awais
No Run.
- 20.40
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Azan Awais
No Run. Half volley on the off, pushes it fordot
- 20.30
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Azan Awais
No Run. Fuller on the off side, defend it to cover for dot
- 20.20
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Azan Awais
No Run.
- 20.10
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Azan Awais
No Run.
- 19.62
Lahiru Kumara to Mohammad Taha
Two Runs. Half volley on the off side, Taha drives it passing the fielder for double
End of over 20: 3 runs · PAK 52/1
- 19.50
Lahiru Kumara to Mohammad Taha
No Run.
- 19.40
Lahiru Kumara to Mohammad Taha
No Run.
- 19.31
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
One Run. 50 comes up for Pakistan! Back of length on the off side, cuts it passing the fielder for a single
- 19.20
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run. Half volley outside the off, Azan looks to defend this but beaten to the keeper
- 19.10
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run.
- 18.60
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run.
End of over 19: 0 runs · PAK 49/1
- 18.50
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Full on the middle, Taha defends it back
- 18.40
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Back of length on the off, cuts it to cover for dot
- 18.30
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run.
- 18.20
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Fuller on the middle, driven back for dot
- 18.10
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Was a good length on the middle, pushes back
- 17.60
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run.
End of over 18: 0 runs · PAK 49/1
- 17.50
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run. Half volley on the off side, flicks it for dot ball
- 17.40
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run. Half volley on the off, defends it to on-side
- 17.30
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run.
- 17.20
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run. Was a length outside off, Azan again gets beaten
- 17.10
Lahiru Kumara to Azan Awais
No Run. Back of length on the middle, flicks it for dot
- 16.60
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Good length on the middle, taps it back
End of over 17: 2 runs · PAK 49/1
- 16.52
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
Two Runs. Was a length outside off, Taha cuts it through the point for double
- 16.40
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run.
- 16.30
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Was a good length on the middle, taps back to bowler
- 16.20
Milan Priyanath Rathnayake to Mohammad Taha
No Run. Length ball on middle, unexpected bounce and Taha ends with outside edge