The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test began in Rawalpindi on Monday, 9 November 2026, and Day 1 has already given fans plenty to talk about. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl, but Pakistan’s top order made a solid start. Here is a full summary of the opening day.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Match Overview
This is the first match of a Test series that runs from 9 to 17 November 2026. Conditions on Day 1 were good for batting: a clear sky, warm weather, no wind and a pitch that looked normal. The match is a day game, so the cricket is played in full sunlight.
Toss: Sri Lanka won and elected to bowl first.
Score at the time of writing: Pakistan 159/3 after 34.5 overs, a run rate of about 4.56.
Pakistan’s Innings: A Solid Start
Opening stand sets the tone
Azan Awais and Mohammad Tayyab Arif gave Pakistan a steady start with an opening partnership of 86 runs in 16 overs. Awais was patient, scoring 30 off 50 balls with seven boundaries. Arif was the more aggressive of the two, with a strike rate above 110.
Milan Rathnayake made the first breakthrough, removing Awais in the 16th over.
Tayyab Arif scores a fifty
Arif was dismissed in the 17th over, but not before he had scored 57 runs with nine fours and a six. Asitha Fernando got his wicket, caught after just one ball into his second spell.
Pakistan then lost a second wicket within a few balls, which put them under pressure at 90/2.
Babar Azam gets a fifty, but falls
All eyes were on Babar Azam, and he delivered another half-century. He scored 50 off 58 balls with seven fours, and put on a 69-run partnership with Mohammad Taha Khan for the third wicket.
His innings ended in the 35th over when he was caught off Dilshan Madushanka, a big wicket for Sri Lanka. Even so, a fifty at this stage helps a batter who has been under constant scrutiny.
Mohammad Taha Khan was not out on 18 off 52 balls, a slow and careful innings. His strike rate was only about 35, which shows how tight Sri Lanka’s bowling was in the middle overs.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling: Disciplined but Short of Wickets
Sri Lanka’s seamers stayed tight for most of the session.
- Milan Rathnayake: 8 overs, 18 runs, 1 wicket, an economy of just 2.25
- Asitha Fernando: 8 overs, 43 runs, 1 wicket
- Dilshan Madushanka: 10.5 overs, 60 runs, 1 wicket
- Lahiru Kumara: 8 overs, 36 runs, 0 wickets, including a maiden
Rathnayake was the pick of the attack with his control and his run of dot balls. Sri Lanka took three wickets but conceded 25 boundaries, so they will want more discipline on Day 2.
Key Talking Points From Day 1
- Babar Azam is back among the runs. A fifty in the first Test of a home series will raise his confidence.
- Pakistan’s new openers look promising. The 86-run stand shows the top order can handle new-ball pressure.
- Sri Lanka’s toss decision looks mixed. They took early wickets, but the pitch offered little help to the bowlers.
- Pakistan need to avoid a collapse. Losing two wickets in quick succession reminded fans of the team’s fragility.
Also check us: Mohanlal Body Double Jailer 2: Joby Kodakara Clarifies The Controversy
What to Expect on Day 2
Pakistan will want to convert their strong start into a big first-innings total. If Taha Khan and the middle order can bat for a long time, Pakistan could aim for 350 or more. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, need an early breakthrough with the second new ball to stay in the contest.
With the pitch holding up so far, spin may play a bigger role as the match goes on, so the later sessions could be worth watching.
Final Thoughts
The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test is shaping up as an interesting contest. Pakistan have made a good start, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers have kept the game close. Stay tuned for Day 2 updates, scorecards and highlights.
