Saqib's seven brings Pakistan back into Test
Saqib’s seven-wicket burst hauled Pakistan back into the Test after Sri Lanka’s lower order folded on the fourth morning.
Sri Lanka looked set to build a stronger position, but the innings unraveled late as they lost their final six wickets for 42 runs. That collapse left them with only a 12-run first-innings lead, a margin slim enough to leave the contest finely balanced rather than under control.
For Pakistan, that was a crucial shift. In Test cricket, a first-innings lead can shape the rhythm of a match, but a double-digit advantage is rarely enough to shut the door on the opposition, especially when wickets are falling quickly. Saqib’s seven wickets were the key factor in preventing Sri Lanka from stretching their advantage into something more comfortable.
A seven-wicket haul is the sort of spell that can turn pressure back on the batting side in a matter of overs. When a lower order is forced to bat with the scoreboard tightening and wickets already in hand, the tail can become vulnerable to disciplined bowling and sustained pressure. Sri Lanka’s finish to the innings underlined how quickly a promising position can shrink.
The result of that fourth-morning burst is that Pakistan remain firmly in the contest, with the first innings still offering a platform for either side to seize control. What happens next will depend on whether Pakistan can use the narrow deficit to their advantage and how Sri Lanka respond after letting a bigger lead slip away. For both teams, the question now is who can turn a small opening into a decisive edge.
