June 9, 2002	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27,1423

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BRISBANE, June 8: Evergreen left-arm paceman Wasim Akram finished with 4-24 from seven overs to help Pakistan beat Queensland by 15 runs in a 40-over-a-side warm-up match Saturday.

Pakistan, who face Australia in a three-match one-day series starting in Melbourne next Wednesday, badly needed the work-out.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi claimed 2-23 to go with his 52 in the Pakistani innings.

Shoaib Akhtar, the world’s fastest bowler, bowled with pace and aggression to claim 2-27 from six overs, including blasting a yorker past the bat of Queensland’s Daniel Payne to dismiss him for a second-ball duck.

Pakistan wrapped up a tight win with three balls remaining after bowling Queensland out for 179 in the 39th over. The tourists made 194-8 in 40 overs.

Earlier, some lusty lower-order hitting by Shoaib and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif helped a rusty Pakistan batting lineup.

Shoaib slammed 25 off 19 balls, including three fours and a six, and Latif chimed in with 25 off 36 balls

Opener Shahid Afridi had got the visitors away to a bright start with 52 off 52 balls, including four fours and three massive sixes, including one off teammate Mohammad Sami.

Sami, the latest addition to the Pakistani quiver of quick bowlers, was invited to play for the home team in order to provide all of the tourists’ squad with match practice before their opening one-day match against Australia on Wednesday at Colonial Stadium.

After Afridi was dismissed, Pakistan struggled to shake off an enthusiastic Queensland attack that had restricted them to 8-151 after 34 overs.

Pakistan are without all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who are both playing in the English county championship.