- Title: Naseem leads fightback as Pakistan host first test in a decade
- Date: 11th December 2019
- Summary: RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (DECEMBER 11, 2019) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN FAST BOWLER NASEEM SHAH, SAYING: "Certainly, the way the bowling was taking place towards the end, we could have got a couple of more wickets. But God willing tomorrow we will try to get them out as soon as possible. We will try to get them out before 250. God willing that will be good." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN FAST BOWLER NASEEM SHAH, SAYING: "No, there was no pressure. I was very excited to be playing on the home ground, in front of a home crowd. When we were in Australia we saw the way the crowd supported the bowlers on their home ground. Today, when the crowd supported us with every ball, we really enjoyed it." REPORTERS HANDS ON CELL PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SRI LANKA CAPTAIN DIMUTH KARUNARATNE, SAYING: "I think after lunch they bowled really well and they bowled good line and lengths and they keep frustrating us. That's their main thing. I think, we did lots of mistakes at that time, and we were struggling to get some runs throughout the lunch to tea, in that particular period. So I think that's the main thing we had to rotate the strike, and you know, give us a chance, the batsmen to get in at that time. I think, that's the point we did a mistake." MEDIA
- Embargoed: 25th December 2019 16:43
- Keywords: Cricket Pakistan Sri Lanka test
- Location: RAWALPINDI , PAKISTAN
- City: RAWALPINDI , PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Cricket,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B9J8KE7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pakistan's teenage fast bowler Naseem Shah led the hosts' recovery against Sri Lanka on a riveting opening day as test cricket returned to the country on Wednesday (December 11) for the first time since a militant attack in 2009.
Sri Lanka started strongly but Pakistan fought back through their four-pronged pace attack as the visitors reached 202 for five when bad light brought an end to the day's play.
The two-match series marks Pakistan's first tests on home soil since the attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore a decade ago and the current touring side have been promised watertight security during the visit.
In the presence of a small crowd at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and opted to bat under overcast skies.
Karunaratne and his opening partner Oshada Fernando gave them a solid start, adding 96 for the first wicket as Pakistan's fast bowlers toiled though a wicketless first session.
Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the first breakthrough when he dismissed Karunaratne, who was also hit on the back of the neck by Naseem Shah, leg before for 59.
Fernando, who played the last of his two tests in February against South Africa, fell to Naseem after a well-made 40.
The 16-year-old Naseem, who played his maiden test against Australia last month, also accounted for the experienced Angelo Mathews.
(Production: Salahuddin/Sheree Sardar) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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