Fast bowlers Saqib Khan, Ali Shabbir and Mohammad Salman took two wickets each as Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 223 for seven against the PCB Patron’s XI on the opening day of the three-day match at the Islamabad Club on Wednesday.

The three are among five fast bowlers vying for the two vacant places in the Pakistan team for the two-Test series starting in Rawalpindi on Nov. 9. The other two contenders, Ubaid Shah and Shoaib Akhtar Jr., took one and none.

Saqib was the most impressive of the five, taking two early wickets and finishing with figures of 12-4-28-2.

For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Udara scored 65 from 105 balls with seven fours and three sixes, while captain Kusal Mendis scored 66 from 72 balls with 11 fours.

When play ended, the Patron’s XI were 43 for two. Abdullah Fazal (2) and Sameer Minhas (3) were the two batters to be dismissed. Azan Awais (19) and Mohammad Taha (16) will resume on Thursday.

Scores in brief (day one of three):

Sri Lanka 223-7 dec., 58 overs (Kusal Mendis 66, Lahiru Udara 65, Anjala Bandara 33 not out; Saqib Khan 2-28, Ali Shabbir 2-28, Mohammad Salman 2-52)

PCB Patron’s XI 43-2 (Azan Awais 19 not out, Mohammad Taha 16 not out, Sameer Minhas 3, Abdullah Fazal 2)