Mendis unbeaten on 45 as Sri Lanka recover to 162-5 in Patron’s XI warm-up
A file photograph of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, venue of the first Test from 9 November — not a photograph of today's warm-up match.
ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka steadied themselves after a shaky start on the opening day of their three-day warm-up match at the Islamabad Club, reaching 162 for five against PCB Patron’s XI at the time of filing. Kusal Mendis was the man holding the innings together, unbeaten on 45, after the visitors had won the toss and chosen to bat first — a decision that looked questionable for a while.
Three down for 40, then the rebuild
It was 40 for three before Sri Lanka found any footing. Pasindu Sooriyabandara made 8 and Dinesh Chandimal went without scoring, both falling to Saqib Khan, and Dhananjaya De Silva added only 14 before Mohammad Salman claimed him. Lahiru Udara changed the shape of the day from there, making 65 from 105 balls with seven fours and three sixes, and putting on the recovery stand with Mendis before Ali Shabbir dismissed him. Shabbir also removed Sonal Dinusha for 10, finishing with two wickets.
Saqib Khan the pick of the bowlers
Saqib was the standout with the ball, taking 2 for 25 from 11 overs, while Shoaib Akhtar Jnr kept things tight at the other end, conceding just 12 runs in seven overs. Mendis, though, refused to be tied down, striking eight boundaries in his 48-ball unbeaten knock, with Anjala Bandara 7 not out alongside him when the report was filed.
The real examination starts on 9 November
The warm-up, running from 4 to 6 November, is doing two jobs at once: giving Sri Lanka time to acclimatise, and giving Pakistan’s Test hopefuls red-ball practice before the series proper. Saad Baig is captaining the Patron’s XI, and two fast bowlers from that squad will be added to Pakistan’s Test side once the match ends. The two Tests count towards the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 — the first in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 November, the second at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from 17 to 21 November.
