Pakistan’s gritty Shakeel again misses out on a century in drawn test against Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI Saud Shakeel missed out on a century for the second successive time but his gritty 97 foiled Sri Lanka's push for a win on the fifth and final day in the drawn first cricket test against Pakistan on Friday. It was the first drawn game for Pakistan in its disappointing campaign in this World Test Championship cycle, losing seven and winning two of its previous nine test matches.

Shakeel, who made 93 in Pakistan's first innings of 434-9 declared, dug in for almost entire final day before he was bowled by Lahiru Kumara after facing 210 balls late on the fifth and final day. By that time, the home team had reached 284-8 for an overall lead of 272 as the players shook hands and the match was called off.

Sri Lanka's pace bowlers had rattled the top order under overcast conditions in the first session by reducing Pakistan to 125-5, but Shakeel showed lot of temperament and shared a match-saving 92-run stand with Ghazi Ghori, who made 35, to deny Sri Lanka unlikely win.