Pakistan and Sri Lanka began their first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the visitors winning the toss and electing to field. Sri Lanka opted for an all-seam attack, hoping to exploit the green tinge on the surface and trouble Pakistan’s top order early in the innings.
However, the hosts made a positive start as their opening pair put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Azan Awais and debutant Tayyab Arif built an 86-run partnership in just 97 deliveries before Milan Rathnayake finally provided the visitors with a breakthrough. The dismissal also produced one of the standout moments of the opening session, with Kusal Mendis taking an impressive catch behind the stumps.
Kusal Mendis takes a sharp diving catch to dismiss Azan Awais
The wicket came in the 16th over when Rathnayake bowled a full delivery outside off stump that shaped back into Awais. The left-hander went for an expansive drive instead of leaving the ball alone, but only managed to get a thick inside edge that travelled behind him.
Mendis anticipated the edge well and immediately dived to his right to complete a sharp catch. Awais had to walk back after scoring 30 off 50 deliveries, including seven boundaries, as Rathnayake gave Sri Lanka their first wicket of the innings.
Here’s the video:
Azan Awais gone#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/1mUhCqsej5
— Cricket Highlights (@kholi_babar) November 9, 2026
Pakistan reach 137/2 at lunch after strong opening stand
Before his dismissal, Awais had shared an entertaining opening partnership with debutant Arif, who looked particularly aggressive against the Sri Lankan pace attack. Arif scored 57 off 51 deliveries, striking nine fours and a six before Asitha Fernando dismissed him after finding an edge through to the wicketkeeper. The two quick wickets brought Sri Lanka back into the contest, reducing Pakistan from 86/0 to 90/2.
Captain Babar Azam then joined another debutant, Mohammad Taha, at the crease, and the pair focused on rebuilding the innings. Sri Lanka also reviewed an LBW decision against Taha late in the session, but the appeal was turned down on umpire’s call. Pakistan went into lunch at 137/2 after 30 overs, with Azam unbeaten on 31 and Taha on 15.
Also READ: PAK vs SL: Fans react to Tayyab Arif’s sensational half-century on Test debut in Rawalpindi
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