Pakistan struggled to end the 222 runs trail set by Sri Lanka in the first Test match at the Galle International Stadium, as it lose five wickets in the opening session of the game.

Tourists skipper Babar Azam stood at 29 off 62 balls, according to updates by noon. He was joined by all-rounder Muhammad Nawaz.

Azam became the 11th Pakistani batter to score 10,000 international runs during the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

Spinners and slow pace attack gave the hosts hope of defending a low score. Prabath Jayasuriya, whose bowling heroics alongside the double century of Dinesh Chandimal led to a series-levelling win over Australia, claimed a fifer.

On day 2 of the Test match wicketkeeper batter Azhar Ali, Muhammad Rizwan, and Agha Salman returned to the pavilion after making low scores.

Sri Lanka’s Kasun Rajitha and Ramesh Mendis got one wicket each.

Hosts captain Dimuth Karunaratne after winning the toss had said that the pitch would support spinners in the latter part of the game.

Day 1

Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi led an inspired attack to bowl out Sri Lanka for 222 but the hosts hit back with two wickets before stumps on the opening day of the first Test on Saturday.

The tourists reached 24 for two at the close of play in Galle after losing their openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique.

Azhar Ali, on three, and skipper Babar Azam, on one, were batting at close of play with Pakistan still trailing by 198 runs.