Sport

Naseem Shah shines as Test match cricket returns to Pakistan

16-year-old takes two Sri Lankan wickets on a competitive opening day in Rawalpindi

16-year-old Shaheen Shah took two wickets as Test match cricket returned to Pakistan. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/Getty/AFP

Wed Dec 11 2019 - 16:02

First Test day one: Sri Lanka 202-5 (FDM Karunaratne 59, N Shah 2-51) off 68.1 overs.

Pakistan’s bowlers dominated day one against Sri Lanka as Test cricket returned to the country following a 10-year absence.

The game is Pakistan’s first Test at home since a militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009. Eight people died, while a number of players and officials were wounded.

It resulted in Pakistan then playing their home international games in the United Arab Emirates.

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Speaking ahead of the match in Rawalpindi, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali told Arab News: “It’s a historic occasion and all the players are excited to be part of this.

“We thank the Sri Lankan team for coming here. The last Test was also against them, so their visit will send a strong message to the world that we need to support each other.

“Cricket is the biggest thing and, if the youngsters can’t see matches here, then it’s a big loss for our cricket and budding players.”

And it was 16-year-old quick Naseem Shah who led the way, with Sri Lanka reduced to 202 for five before bad light ended play 48 minutes early.

Sri Lanka’s openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando put on 96 for the first wicket, but skipper Karunaratne’s dismissal sparked a spell of Pakistan dominance.

Karunaratne made 59 before Shaheen Afridi trapped him lbw, then Fernando followed for 40, caught by Haris Sohail off Shah.

And the middle order could not get going as Sri Lanka slipped to 127 for four after Kuhal Mendis made just 10, caught by Mohammad Rizwan off Usman Shinwari, and Dinesh Chandimal was bowled by Mohammad Abbas for two.

Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya De Silva steadied the ship through a sixth-wicket stand of 62, but Shah dismissed the former for 31, with De Silva 38 not out at the close and Niroshan Dickwella on 11.

Shah finished with figures of two for 51, putting his team in the ascendancy on a day when 22.5 overs were lost.

And rain is forecast at various intervals over the next three days, suggesting it could prove difficult for either side to force a result.

Sri Lanka First Innings

F D M Karunaratne lbw b Afridi 59

B O P Fernando c Haris Sohail b Shah 40

B K G Mendis c Rizwan b Shinwari 10

A D Mathews c Asad Shafiq b Shah 31

L D Chandimal b Mohammad Abbas 2

D M de Silva not out 38

D P D Dickwella not out 11

Extras b5 lb3 nb3 11

Total 4 wkts (68.1 overs) 202

Fall: 1-96 2-109 3-120 4-127 5-189

Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 20.1 7 50 1 Afridi 16 6 37 1 Shinwari 14 4 47 1 Shah 16 4 51 2 Haris Sohail 1 0 9 0 Shan Masood 1 1 0 0.

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