ROTTERDAM: Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf stated that bowling with a new ball was a challenge for him after he proved himself as a strike option for the team following his brilliant performance in the second ODI against the Netherlands.

Haris along with Naseem Shah, who is currently on his first ODI assignment, led the charge for Pakistan against the Netherlands in the absence of the team’s main strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi after he was rested due to an injury.

“Previously I used to bowl with a slightly old ball, but I bowled with a new ball in the series against Australia and here as well. It was a new challenge for me and I was trying to utilize it effectively,” said Haris in an interview given to this reporter.

Commenting on playing conditions, the right-arm pacer believed that the drastic contrast in the Netherlands’ conditions from that of Pakistan added to his learning experience.

“Conditions were very different here, the ground was soft, the ball was getting a grip in the wicket and the wicket was slow, you get to learn a lot from these things,” he added.

Naseem, on the other hand, stated that although he had been a regular member of Pakistan’s Test team yet the feelings were altogether different here as it was his debut ODI series.

“Although I have played Tests but the feelings during the debut are unmatched, Conditions were excellent here and it was an exciting ODI debut for me,” said Naseem.

Commenting on the playing conditions in the Netherlands, the young speedster stated that although the pitch was grassy, the ball was coming nicely onto the bat initially.

“The aura of playing at the international level was very different from league cricket,” he said. “Although the pitch looked grassy, the ball was slowing a bit before reaching the batsman. The ball was getting stuck and swinging simultaneously.” he maintained.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against the Netherlands after their comprehensive seven-wicket victory yesterday in the second ODI.

Haris Rauf produced sensational bowling figures of 3/16 while Naseem claimed two wickets to propel the collapse of the Dutch team in the second ODI. Whereas, Mohammad Nawaz also bagged three wickets with Shadab Khan and Mohammad Wasim making a scalp each to restrict the hosts to 186.

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