(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Pakistan batsmen among runs but Australians take wickets on flat track Pakistan’s Harris Sohail plays a shot during the four-day match against Australia in Sharjah. — KT photos by Mukesh Kamal
Dubai — Asad Shafiq and Ahmed Shehzad have batted reasonably well for Pakistan in the recently concluded one-day series against Australia. They apart from Sarfraz Ahmed who was Pakistan’s top scorer in the ODI series with 131 runs from three matches seem to be Pakistan’s best bet for the upcoming Tests beginning at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 22.
While Shafiq scored 93 with an average of 30.66 from three games Shehzad made 91 at 30.33. Both have scored a half century each but failed to convert their good starts into big scores hurting Pakistan’s cause in ODIs. Having lost the lone Twenty20 match and the ODI series 3-0 Pakistan need much improved batting performances from their top players if they had to make a comeback in Tests.
The only warm-up game before the big Test was an ideal opportunity for Pakistan batsmen to get some big scores under their belt. Shafiq utilised the opportunity and smashed a classy century to guide Pakistan A to 305 for eight at the end of day one in the four-day match against Australians at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Shafiq reached his century in style hitting Peter Siddle for a boundary and then celebrated it with smashing the next delivery for a huge six over the long on. He remained not out on a 156-ball 108 studded with 13 boundaries and four sixes.
Despite Shafiq’s composed century Australians would have also pleased by the way their bowlers finished the opening day on a batting wicket. Though their premier spinner Nathan Lyon went wicketless Test hopeful Steve O’Keefe bagged three while Siddle finished with two wickets. Mitchell Johnson Ben Hilfenhaus and Steven Smith bagged one wicket apiece.
Earlier it wasn’t smooth sailing for Pakistan who won the toss and decided to bat first but lost opener Shan Masood who partnered Shehzad in the third over. Johnson gave the breakthrough when the 25-year-old left-hander nicked one back to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. The next batsman Israrullah too fell soon to pacer Siddle raising prospects of another Pakistan collapse.
With 2-11 Pakistan were in a spot of bother but a brilliant 87-run third wicket partnership between Shehzad and Babar Azam guided them to safety.
Pakistan were placed at a comfortable 87 for 2 at lunch with Shehzad batting on 46. Shehzad completed his half century after lunch but a lapse in concentration ended his knock when he was clean bowled by Hilfenhaus in the 36th over. The 22-year old batsman from Lahore hit seven fours and two sixes in his 100-ball knock of 55. His partner Azam was the next one to go when he mistimed a delivery from left-arm spinner O’Keefe to James Faulkner at mid-on. Azam played a patient knock taking his own time to compile 40 off 130 balls (2x4).
Meanwhile Shafiq was unperturbed at the other end and went on to add some useful runs. He got an able ally in Haris Sohail who chipped in with an useful 43 off 91 balls (4x4 1x6). The duo added 100 runs for the fifth wicket in 27.5 overs but Test hopeful O’Keefe hit back by clean bowling the 25-year old left-hand batsman from Sialkot in the 48th over.
The sixth-wicket also produced 45 runs in 7.4 overs with Adnan Akmal smashing 25 off 28 balls with the help of five boundaries. O’Keefe deceived the wicketkeeper in flight and he was caught comfortably by skipper Michael Clarke standing as the lone slip.
pradeepkhaleejtimes.com
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.