Abid nears record as historic Pakistan Test heads for draw

Pakistan's opener Abid Ali is nine runs from becoming the first batsman to score hundreds on Test and one-day international debut, as the first Test in Pakistan since the 2009 attacks heads for a draw.

The 32-year-old was unbeaten on 91 along with Babar Azam on 47 as Pakistan reached 177-2 at tea in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 308-6 on the fifth day at Rawalpindi stadium.

Abid scored 112 against Australia in Dubai on his one-day international debut in March this year.

Bad weather hit the Test on all previous four days and only 91.5 overs were played as rain, bad light and overcast conditions affected the game. The fourth day was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

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.

With gates opened to the crowd for free, about 12,000 fans were kept entertained by Dhananjaya and then Abid.

Pakistan ...