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| September 12, 2005 | Monday | Sha’aban 7, 1426 |
Australia ‘A’ struggle on rain-hit first day
RAWALPINDI, Sept 11: Australia ‘A’ found Pakistan ‘A’ pacemen difficult to handle and made an unimpressive start on the rain-hit first day of their four-day match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Right-arm Shahid Nazir inflicted most of the damage on the tourists who had crawled to 120 for six in 39.3 overs when rain brought play to a grinding halt at 3.40pm.
Shahid picked up 3-28 in a tidy 12 overs, five of which were maiden. Mohammad Sami, returning after a heel injury, snapped up two wickets including that of captain Brad Haddin.
Umar Gul, having recovered from a back problem after being out for almost a year, took one wicket in his 10 overs as Pakistan A bowlers gave a good account of themselves.
The stand-out for the Australians, who are to play two four-day games and three one-dayers on their short tour, was opener Phil Jaques. Unbeaten on 56, the New South Wales batsman struck six boundaries in a responsible 134-ball innings and was the only bright spark on an otherwise dismal day for the visitors.
The start of the match was delayed by half an hour and once action began, Shahid drew first blood by dismissing Western Australia’s Michael Hussey with only nine runs on board.
As wickets continued to fall, Jaques did his bit by treating any loose deliveries that came his way with disdain. It was hence no surprise that he finished the day as the top scorer. Victoria’s Cameron White who scored 23, was the only other batsman to get into double figures.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA ‘A’ (1st Innings):
M.E.K. Hussey b Shahid 2
P.A. Jaques not out 56
B.J. Hodge b Sami 6
D.J. Thornely lbw b Umar Gul 5
S.R. Watson lbw b Shahid 1
B.J. Haddin c Mansoor b Sami 9
C.L. White c Bazid b Shahid 23
N.W. Bracken not out 0
EXTRAS (B-7, LB3, NB-8) 18
TOTAL (for six wkts, 39.3 overs) 120
FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-20, 3-36, 4-43, 5-72, 6-117.
TO BAT: M.G. Johnson, D.J. Cullen, M.L. Lewis.
BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Sami 12.3-0-44-2, Shahid Nazir 12-5-28-3, Umar Gul 10-2-25-1, Shoaib Malik 5-1-13-0.
PAKISTAN ‘A’: Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Bazid Khan, Misbahul Haq, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Zulqarnain Haider, Mansoor Amjad, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul.
UMPIRES: Mian Aslam and Riazuddin.
MATCH REFEREE: Abdul Sami Khan.
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