Tayyab's attacking debut and fifties for Babar and Shakeel leave Pakistan 281 for 5 in Rawalpindi

Pakistan reached 281 for 5 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi after debutant Tayyab Arif and Saud Shakeel each scored half-centuries and the visitors mounted a late fightback.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to bowl on a Rawalpindi surface showing a tinge of green, but the conditions did not produce the pronounced assistance he might have hoped for and Pakistan's openers were able to settle. Tayyab Arif set an aggressive tone on debut, making 57 off just 51 deliveries, while Azan Awais provided support at the other end during the early stages.

The opening pair combined for 16 boundaries before Milan Rathnayaka found one that came back into Azan Awais and took the edge through to the wicketkeeper. Asitha Fernando struck in the following over, finding Arif's outside edge and ending an entertaining opening stand.

Pakistan then rebuilt with Babar Azam the fulcrum of the innings, looking assured at the crease despite recent struggles for runs. Mohammad Taha adopted a more cautious role as Babar took responsibility for setting the tempo while the middle order consolidated.

Babar accelerated after lunch, punishing several loose deliveries from Dilshan Madushanka and reaching another half-century, but Madushanka corrected his line and generated movement away to induce an edge that carried to Mendis behind the stumps.

Mohammad Taha, who had worked hard to reach his own fifty, fell after tea when he miscued an ambitious shot against Sonal Dinusha and was caught by Dhananjaya de Silva. Asitha Fernando then dismissed Salman Agha, getting extra bounce that took the shoulder of the bat and carried to Mendis, but Saud Shakeel navigated the final period without further loss.

Pakistan closed the day with Saud Shakeel unbeaten on 57 at the close of play; he will resume on the second morning with the responsibility of guiding the hosts. Pakistan finished on 281 for 5 with five wickets remaining, and much will now depend on whether Shakeel can convert his unbeaten half-century into a substantial innings on day two.