(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Clarke and Marsh fail to get going on their return from injuries in tour match
Sharjah — The Australians might not have been exactly pleased with the way Michael Clarke and Mitchell Marsh returned from their injury layoffs but an impressive century from Alex Doolan must have warmed their hearts at the end of the second day of their four-day warm-up match against Pakistan A at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Doolan’s delightful innings helped the Australians finish the second day at 273 for eight (two retired out) in reply to Pakistan’s 305-8.
The Pakistan A pacers made an early impression putting the Aussies under a bit of pressure reducing them to 3-58 at one stage. It wasn’t an ideal preparation for Clarke who has not played since the one-day tour of Zimbabwe due to a hamstring injury. The Australian captain faced just 31 deliveries and hit one boundary before falling to the 21-year old medium pacer Ehsan Adil for 10.
All-rounder Marsh who also had a hamstring injury couldn’t open his account and was cleaned bowled by medium-pacer Attaullah. But the day definitely belonged to Doolan who played a convincing knock to boost his confidence ahead of the first Test starting at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 22.
The 28-year old batsman who has played three Tests so far smashed a 194-ball 104 studded with 12 boundaries and three elegant sixes before deciding to retire.
He got good company from Steven Smith who was once again impressive with the bat hitting a 123-ball 58 (9x4). Smith who emerged as the top run-getter in the three-match one-day series with an aggregate of 190 runs retired after the 59th over and added an useful 106 for the fourth wicket with Doolan. Earlier Australia lost their first wicket in the very first ball of the initial over when pacer Mohammad Talha trapped Chris Rogers in front of the wicket.
However the visitors came back into the match strongly when the Doolan-Smith duo stamped their authority over Pakistan attack.
Phil Hughes who is expected to play the first Test due to David Warner’s groin strain made 14 before he was trapped in front of the wicket by pacer Rahat Ali. Australians who were placed 3-62 at lunch showed remarkable improvement in the next session adding 87 runs and reached 3-149 at tea.
The bowlers toiled hard on an unresponsive wicket with spinners too failing to get much purchase out of it. Leg-spinner Karamat Ali bagged one while left-arm spinner Raza Hasan finally got his reward when he dismissed Steve O’Keefe who was caught by Asad Shafiq at the lone slip for a 25-ball 16 (2x4). The pacers Talha Ali Attaullah and Adil picked up one wicket apiece. Hasan did the bulk of the bowling and he finished with 1-59 from 23 overs.
pradeepkhaleejtimes.com
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