Saqib's seven brings Pakistan back into Test

Saqib Khan delivered an unnerring and unbroken eight-over spell, claiming five wickets for 25 runs to bring Pakistan charging back into the Test.

With only a single wicket having fallen on Wednesday, play had begun on day four with the prospect of Sri Lanka building a commanding lead, their centurions still at the crease. But delivering exceptional line-and-length under cloudy skies, and on a surface that still offered plenty of lateral movement, Saqib removed the opposition's top scorer Dhananjaya de Silva in the first over of the day, then just kept nicking Sri Lanka batters off. Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 runs, with Razaullah having Milan Rathnayaka caught in the deep to end the innings.

Having given up a first-innings lead of just 12, Pakistan also lost the wicket of debutant Tayyab Arif to take this morning's overall wicket tally to seven. Asitha Fernando claimed that wicket, delivering Sri Lanka's best pre-lunch spell. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha were tested by Sri Lanka's quicks too at times, and went to lunch on 16 and 12 not out respectively.

All but one of Saqib's day four dismissals resulted from catches behind the wicket, four of them gobbled up by wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori. He had probed away in the channel outside off stump already when de Silva pushed at an away-swinger and nicked behind, fifth ball of the day. De Silva did not add to his score on day four, going for 167. Kusal Mendis, who was 117 overnight, lasted longer than de Silva, but could himself only add two further runs to his tally before also edging one to a diving Ghori. That was the second time Saqib had taken Kusal's edge that over, with Saud Shakeel having spilt the first chance at first slip.

Saqib was just as good against the left-handers, getting some to nip back off the length and others to hold their line, as he continued to test their patience. Sonal Dinusha lost his after getting to 20, sending a catch to the cordon as he attempted a booming cover drive. That gave Saqib a maiden five-wicket haul in his first bowling innings ever. He would also have Asitha Fernando caught behind, but for the tailenders, Saqib went at the stumps, nailing Lahiru Kumara plumb in front just before drinks.

His innings figures of 7 for 130 are the fourth-best for a Pakistan bowler on debut. Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir, and Abrar Ahmed had also taken seven wickets in an innings on debut, but had not conceded as many runs.