Saqib Khan made a short fourth day his own when he finished with seven for 130 on debut as bad light continued to mar the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which is now headed for a draw in Rawalpindi.

Saqib, who had two for 105 on the third day, took five wickets for 25 runs to finish with 34-5-130-7 as Sri Lanka lost six wickets on the fourth morning for 42 runs to be bowled out for 446.

Razaullah took the last wicket, that of Milan Rathnayaka, to open his Test account. He finished with one for 140 from 26.2 overs.

When play ended soon after lunch, with only 36.4 overs possible in the day, Pakistan were 57 for one, with Mohammad Taha on 24 and Azan Awais on 22 not out. Pakistan lead by 45 runs, and with the forecast poor for Friday, the Test will in all probability peter out into a draw.

The brief day’s play belonged to Saqib, the 31-year-old from Karachi, who, in only his 20th first-class match, became the fourth Pakistan bowler after Mohammad Nazir, Mohammad Zahid and Abrar Ahmed to take seven wickets on Test debut.

Mohammad Nazir Jr. took seven for 99 against New Zealand in Karachi in 1969, Mohammad Zahid grabbed seven for 66 against New Zealand in Rawalpindi 30 years ago, while Abrar Ahmed claimed seven for 114 against England in Rawalpindi in 2022.

The performance, which perhaps came a day late, has not only extended Saqib’s career beyond this Test but also brought smiles to the face of interim head coach Mike Hesson, who rightly continues to face criticism for overlooking experienced bowlers and throwing inexperienced ones in at the deep end of the most demanding and grueling format.

Saqib’s achievement is commendable, but it does not take away from the fact that Hesson got his bowling options horribly wrong. After declaring the first innings at 434 for nine, Pakistan needed quick wickets to pressure the visitors, but took only one on the third day. They lost the advantage and were under pressure when Sri Lanka finished the day at 404 for four.

On fast-bowler-friendly surfaces, which are rare to prepare and find in Pakistan, this was a wasted opportunity on the third day by both Saqib and Razaullah. Arafat Minhas, who was preferred over Ali Usman, also failed to repeat the performance that earned him the player of the match award against England at the same venue in an ODI last month, when he took six for 40.

Even so, Saqib’s strong performance on the fourth morning restricted Sri Lanka’s first-innings lead to 12 runs, something Pakistan would have happily accepted at the close on the third day. With weather likely to affect the fifth day, Pakistan will be satisfied with the result, particularly after the situation they were in after the third day.

Saqib bowled fast and accurately, finally pitching the ball in the right areas and forcing the Sri Lanka batters into mistakes.

He dismissed Dhananjaya De Silva (167) on the fifth ball of the day and Kusal Mendis (119) 13 balls later. Both were caught behind by Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, who went on to finish with six dismissals.

Saqib’s other victims were Sonal Dinusha (20), caught at second slip by Salman Ali Agha, Lahiru Kumara (0), lbw, and Asitha Fernando (4), again caught behind.

Scores in brief (day four of five)

Pakistan 434-9 dec., 106.3 overs (Saud Shakeel 93, Mohammad Tayyab Arif 57, Arafat Minhas 52, Mohammad Taha 51, Babar Azam 50, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori 48, Azan Awais 30; Asitha Fernando 3-107, Dilshan Madushanka 3-108) and 57-1, 21.2 overs (Mohammad Taha 24 not out, Azan Awais 22 not out)

Sri Lanka (overnight 404-4, 102 overs) 446 all-out, 117.2 overs (Dhananjaya De Silva 167, Kusal Mendis 119, Kamindu Mendis 58, Lahiru Udara 42; Saqib Khan 7-130, Mohammad Abbas 2-68)