11/13/2026 02:02:00
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11/13 01:57 CST Pakistan leads by 139 after Babar and Agha fall in Sri Lanka
fielding trap on 5th day of 1st test
Pakistan leads by 139 after Babar and Agha fall in Sri Lanka fielding trap on
5th day of 1st test
RIZWAN ALI
AP Sports Writer
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) --- Pakistan's top-order batters stumbled against Sri
Lanka captain Kusal Mendis' innovative field setting to reach 151-5 on the
fifth and final day of the first cricket test on Friday.
Skipper Babar Azam, who scored 34, and Salman Ali Agha made 13 before both fell
into the Mendis' fielding trap and offered catches at short backward square leg
on a second successive overcast morning at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan, which curtailed the Sri Lankan first-innings lead to 12 on the back
of inspiring seven-wicket debut by fast bowler Saqib Khan, led by 139 runs at
lunch with two sessions remaining in the opening test of the two-match series.
Saud Shakeel took a nasty blow on the shoulder off Dilshan Madushanka's short
ball, but dug in for almost the entire first session and was unbeaten on a
patient 23 with wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori not out on 7.
Shakeel successfully overturned an lbw decision against him early in the
innings and has faced 85 balls on a wicket where seamers were getting
assistance under overcast conditions.
Resuming on 57-1, Pakistan had a disastrous start to the final day when both
the overnight batters Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha were dismissed without
adding to their scores of 22 and 24 respectively.
Awais flashed hard at Lahiru Kumara's (1-42) first ball and was caught at slips
while Asitha Fernando's (2-20) delivery seamed enough to get the outside edge
of Taha's bat from the other end.
Babar added 50 runs with defiant Shakeel and struck six boundaries with his
trademark cover drives but yet again couldn't convert a good start into big
innings as his drought of century in test matches was extended to 42 innings.
Babar also survived two chances. Kamindu Mendis grassed a regulation chance in
the second slip when Babar was on 22 and then had a close lbw call went in his
favor on an umpire's call before he fell into Mendis' trap and gave a simple
catch to Lahiru Udara.
There was a 20-minute stoppage due to bad light, but on resumption Milan
Rathnayake (2-32) executed the fielding plan with another short ball to Agha
and Pasindu Sooriyabandara brought up a spectacular catch before Shakeel and
Ghori played out a tense half-hour before lunch.
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