Pakistan finished the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at 281/5 in Rawalpindi, driven by a collective batting effort from their top and middle order. Debutant Tayyab Arif provided an explosive start, marking his first Test appearance with a 51-ball 57. Alongside him, the innings was defined by half-centuries from Babar Azam, Mohammad Taha, and Saud Shakeel, who remained unbeaten at the close of play. Pakistan’s 20-year-old opener Tayyab Arif made a rollicking first impression in Tests as he slammed a 51-ball 57 on debut. That came via an uber-confident first-timer, Arif, who punished bad lengths confidently. And Sri Lanka bowlers stopped them in their tracks, that became the script for the rest of the day: Pakistan batters got to fifties. And Azam gave them a similar start in the post-Lunch period, pakistan scored runs at 4.5 an over in the morning session. While adding a 68-run stand with Taha, he batted on and finished unbeaten on 57. With 77 coming in the session off 23 overs, taha and Shakeel took Pakistan to 214/3 at Tea. As light began to fade, Sri Lanka tried to dig their heels in further.
Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis opted to bowl, hoping the green-tinged surface would offer early assistance to his seamers. However, the pitch proved more docile than expected, and the visitors struggled to contain the opening pair. Arif and 22-year-old Azan Awais took a proactive approach, accumulating 59 runs within the first 10 overs. Arif was particularly aggressive, reaching a 46-ball fifty with a boundary off Lahiru Kumara before eventually being dismissed by Asitha Fernando, who finished the day with 2-64.
The momentum shifted when Awais fell to Milan Rathnayake, giving the visitors their first breakthrough. This pattern persisted throughout the day, as Pakistani batters consistently reached personal milestones only to lose their wickets shortly thereafter. Babar Azam, displaying his characteristic style, struck his 35th Test half-century off just 54 balls. He dominated the post-lunch session, executing three cover drives off Dilshan Madushanka, but was eventually caught behind to become the bowler’s second wicket of the day. That also led to a dismissal soon, but once again.
Mohammad Taha, another debutant, adopted a more measured approach than Arif, successfully navigating the conditions. He shared a crucial 68-run partnership with Saud Shakeel as the scoring rate stabilized in the afternoon. Upon reaching his maiden Test fifty, Taha was dismissed by Sonal Dinusha, with Dhananjaya de Silva claiming the catch at first slip. Shortly after, Asitha Fernando removed Salman Agha, briefly checking Pakistan’s progress. Who too started with a fifty, one debutant’s exit paved the way for the arrival of another – Mohammad Taha. Was in contrast to Arif’s: a lot more measured and circumspect, his knock though.
Saud Shakeel anchored the latter stages of the innings, finishing the day on 57 not out. He accelerated the scoring with three boundaries off Madushanka in a single over, during which he also reached his own half-century. Persistent poor light eventually halted play after two balls of the 68th over, leaving Pakistan in a strong position. Brief scores: Pakistan 281/5 (Tayyab Arif 57, Saud Shakeel 57*, Mohammad Taha 51, Babar Azam 50; Asitha Fernando 2-64) against Sri Lanka.
