Pakistan’s Abid Ali offers a prayer after scoring a century against Sri Lanka on the final day of the first Test in Rawalpindi (Aamir QURESHI)
<p>Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (AFP) – Opener Abid Ali became the only batsman to score hundreds on both Test and one-day debuts as Pakistan’s first home match in the long form of the game since the 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team ended in a tame draw against the same opponents Sunday.</p><p>On 95, the 32-year-old hit paceman Vishwa Fernando for a boundary and then drove him through cover for two to complete his hundred, raising his hands in jubilation before kneeling on the ground to offer a prayer of gratitude.</p><p>His hundred came in 267 minutes, laced with 11 boundaries, and was the highlight of a Test badly affected by the weather.</p><p>Pakistan finished at 252-2, with stylish batsman Babar Azam knocking his third Test century with a boundary off spinner Dilruwan Perera.</p><p>Azam ended with 102 not out, which came in 151 minutes of punishing batting spiced by 14 crisp boundaries.</p><p>But the day belonged to Abid, one of 15 batsmen to score a hundred on their one-day international debut — against Australia in Dubai in March this year — since limited over cricket began in January 1971.</p><p>None of the others also scored a century on their debut in Test cricket, which started in 1876.</p><p>Abid is the 11th Pakistani batsmen to score a century on Test debut.</p><p>"I don’t have words to thank the Almighty," said Abid of his feat.</p><p>"My plan was to see off the new ball and then I gradually built the innings with plans for every five overs. So I kept trying to keep that up, and Babar gave me confidence in 90s.</p><p>Abid’s feat spiced up the historic Test, the first in Pakistan since the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus left international cricket suspended in the country.</p><p>Only 91.5 overs were possible on the first four days as rain, bad light and overcast conditions affected play. The fourth day was abandoned without a ball being bowled.</p><p>But there was bright sunshine on Sunday as Sri Lanka batted for 20 minutes to declare their first innings at 308-6 with middle-order batsman Dhananjaya de Silva scoring an unbeaten 102. </p><p>With gates opened to the crowd for free, about 12,000 fans were kept entertained by Dhananjaya and then Abid.</p><p>Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne hopes his team moves on.</p><p>"We came two days before the Test and we’ve done a really good job. Washed out for a couple of days but Dhananjaya’s effort and the two fast bowlers on this pitch did well," said Karunaratne.</p><p>The draw gives both Pakistan and Sri Lanka 20 points each in the World Test championship, contested by nine teams, with the top two contesting the June 2021 final.</p><p>Pakistan lost opener Shan Masood for nought when he drove a full toss from paceman Kasun Rajitha straight into the hands of Dinesh Chandimal at cover</p><p>Skipper Azhar Ali scored a shaky 36 before he was caught off Lahiru Kumara.  </p><p>Dhananjaya finally completed his sixth Test century in the morning. </p><p>The 28-year-old right-hander drove paceman Mohammad Abbas for his 15th boundary to bring up the hundred in his 28th Test. </p><p>De Silva remained unbeaten on 102 after 241 minutes of batting, having come in with the score on 127-4 on Thursday. Dilruwan Perera remained unbeaten on 16. </p><p>The pick of the Pakistan bowlers were 16-year-old quickie Naseem Shah, who took 2-92, and Shaheen Shah Afridi with 2-58. </p><p>The second Test is in Karachi starting December 19.</p><p></p>

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.