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| January 9, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 8, 1426 |
Imran and Hasan enhance chances for Test spots
LAHORE, Jan 8: Imran Farhat (107) and captain Hasan Raza (62) put on 160 runs for the third wicket and a timely reminder for the selectors as they helped Pakistan “A” recover against India in the three-day warm-up fixture at Bagh-i-Jinnah on Sunday.
Imran struck 162-ball 107 while Hasan made 62-ball 75 as Pakistan were 212 for four in the first innings by close of play after being 26-2, in reply to India first innings total of 414 for seven declared.
Imran and Hasan, battling to regain places in the Pakistan team, joined hands when opener Bazid Khan (6) and Muhammad Wasim (1) went cheaply.
Bazid was caught at slip by Venkatsai Laxman off medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar.
Wasim was trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan.
But Hasan and Imran hit strokes all-around the wicket forcing Indian skipper Rahul Dravid to use five main bowlers for the break through.
Hasan, who completed the half-century in style, hitting a six and a four off Pathan, was dismissed by the pacer who had caught him by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
When Hasan departed, Imran was batting at 98 and he took two runs in the next over of off-spinner Harbajhan Singh to complete the century with 16 elegant fours and a six before caught before caught by Zaheer off Harbajhan after adding only seven more runs.
“Yes, the innings gave me enough confidence and I do hope same performance for Pakistan, if I got a chance,” Imran told reporters.
“I am doing my efforts and I had also played some fine innings in the domestic matches but it is up to the selectors now,” the opener said, who was dropped after the Pakistan’s tour of Australia in 2004-05.
Hasan said that he decided to play attacking cricket to cope with the pressure of early losses and this strategy worked well.
Faisal Iqbal (13) and Asim Kamal (4) will resume the innings on Monday, the last day of the match which is heading towards a likely draw.
Earlier, India made the declaration at lunch after resuming the first innings at 298 for four.
Overnight pair of Laxman (54 9x4) and Yuvraj Singh (59 11x4), both hit half-centuries before they were retired out as Indian batsmen opted to have batting practice.
Scoreboard
India (1st innings) (overnight 298-4)
Gautum Gambhir c Iftikhar b Irshad 53
Wasim Jaffer c Haider b Gul 58
Rahul Dravid c Raza b Farhat 63
Sachin Tendulkar c Haider b Arafat 74
Venkatsai Laxman retired out 54
Yuvraj Singh retired out 59
M. Dhoni c sub (Ibrahim) b Irshad 22
Irfan Pathan not out 8
Ajit Agarkar not out 4
Extras: (b5, lb4, nb10) 19
Total: (for seven wkts dec, 104 overs) 414
Fall of wkts: 1-81, 2-153, 3-220, 4-279, 5-357, 6-390, 7-402
Bowling: Gul 19-3-58-1, Iftikhar 15-3-62-0, Arafat 24-3-83-1, Irshad 19-2-79-2, Farhat 8-0-36-1, Amjad 19-1-87-0
Pakistan ‘A’
Imran Farhat c Zaheer b Harbhajan 107
Bazid Khan c Laxman b Agarkar 6
Mohammad Waseem lbw b Pathan 1
Hasan Raza c Dhoni b Pathan 75
Faisal Iqbal not out 13
Asim Kamal not out 4
Extras: (lb3, nb3) 6
Total: (for four wkts, 48 overs) 212
Fall of wkts: 1-14, 2-26, 3-186, 4-198.
Bowling: Pathan 13-3-61-2, Agarkar 9-2-28-1, Pratap 6-0-33-0, Zaheer 7-0-43-0, Harbhajan 13-1-44-1.
Umpires: Riazuddin and Zameer Haider.
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