Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz said on Monday that his first five-wicket haul on return to Test cricket was a “dream” feat he wanted to repeat. 28-year-old Nawaz, who played just three Tests for Pakistan in 2016, impressed with his left arm spin to dent the Sri Lankan top and middle tier in the first match in Galle. He paired with leg spinner Yasir Shah to bring Sri Lanka down to 267 for eight, but the hosts hit back with Dinesh Chandimal’s unbeaten 86 and led with 333 at the end of the third day of play.
“It’s every bowler’s dream to get a five-for in Test cricket and the same goes for me,” Nawaz told reporters.
“I am very happy and I will continue to work hard and repeat this kind of performance again.”
Nawaz made his debut in various formats in 2016, but his five-day career came to a halt after just three Tests against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates.
His white-ball reputation has grown, with 19 one-day internationals and 30 Twenty20 appearances for the national team, but he insists that red-ball cricket excites him the most.
“I continued to play first-class cricket, of course played a lot of international white-ball cricket, but a test opportunity never came my way,” said Nawaz of his cricket journey.
“The focus was on playing red ball cricket, which helps you grow as a player. My 2022 home red ball season was good as I made over 700 runs and took 28-29 wickets.
“I’m glad I can bowl well during my comeback and I hope to show up with the bat too.”
Babar Azam’s Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka, which was 329-9 at stumps, on day four and then chase an already challenging-looking total.
But Nawaz remains confident in the Pakistani at bat, who fought back from 87-5 in the first innings to just four runs behind Sri Lanka’s 222.
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“They put in a good total, looking at the conditions, but it’s not impossible,” he said.
“As a batting unit, if we get two or three good partnerships, I think it will be feasible.”
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