Saqib Khan's seven wickets have kept Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test after Sri Lanka threatened to build a much larger first-innings advantage. The debutant finished with 7/130, leaving the visitors only 12 runs ahead despite the strong position from which they began the fourth day.
According to the ICC's November 12 report, Pakistan closed day four with a lead of 45 and nine second-innings wickets remaining. Tayyab Arif had been dismissed. That leaves the match open going into its next stage rather than turning the debutant's performance into a completed Pakistan victory.
Breaking the overnight partnership
Sri Lanka resumed on 404/4 in response to Pakistan's declared 434/9. Saqib had already taken two wickets, and his first over of the day removed Dhananjaya de Silva for 167. Kusal Mendis, who made 119, followed, with both centurions caught behind.
De Silva's dismissal ended a 249-run partnership, Sri Lanka's highest for the fifth wicket against Pakistan in men's Tests. Removing both established batters changed the shape of the innings: the overnight platform had suggested a larger lead, but Pakistan were able to work through the remaining batting.
A place among Pakistan's debut figures
Sonal Dinusha resisted for 20 before becoming Saqib's fifth wicket. The remaining breakthroughs took the fast bowler to seven wickets for 130 runs, the fourth-best innings return by a Pakistan bowler on Test debut when those seven-wicket hauls are ordered by runs conceded.
Mohammad Zahid's 7/66, Mohammad Nazir's 7/99 and Abrar Ahmed's 7/114 remain ahead of him. This comparison concerns a single innings on debut, rather than a full-match bowling aggregate or a ranking of every Pakistan bowling performance.
For the immediate contest, the key consequence is the narrow first-innings deficit. Pakistan have a second innings to build from their day-four lead, while Sri Lanka still have the chance to shape the final outcome. Saqib's spell has preserved that contest without settling it.
