|
|
|
| July 15, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 18, 1427 |
Australia, Pakistan draw; India beat New Zealand
DARWIN, July 14: Shane Watson made an unbeaten 63 on Friday, following his first innings of 161 not out, as Australia A and Pakistan A drew their four-day match at the Top End Series.
Australia A declared its second innings at 165 for six, setting Pakistan A a winning target of 245, and the tourists reached 145 for four from 30 overs before stumps were drawn half an hour early.
Watson made the most of the opportunity the match afforded to push his case for a test recall in front of Australia coach John Buchanan and the national selectors.
He followed his superb first innings with another accomplished knock, batting for 172 minutes and hitting eight fours and a six.
Watson played three tests for Australia in 2005, the last against the West Indies in November, before being sidelined with a shoulder injury.
The Top End series, in which second-string, A teams from Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan meet in Twenty20, limited overs and four-day matches, has given him the chance to make a case for a recall ahead of the summer's Ashes series against England.Australia A established a 79-run first innings lead, dismissing Pakistan A for 431 after making 510 for six declared. Watson's 161 was complemented by Brad Haddin's 129 while Pakistan's reply was based around the superb 180 of opener Mohammad Hafeez.Australia needed quick runs Friday if its was to set Pakistan A a target and leave itself time to dismiss the tourists.
Opener Phil Jaques, who shares Watson's test ambition, made 48 to go with his first innings of 60 and Watson's innings allowed Australia A to declare after 62 overs.
Pakistan A faced only 30 overs, scoring at almost five runs per over, before stumps were drawn with the agreement of both captains.
Meanwhile, India A beat New Zealand A by three wickets in another four day match.
Left-arm paceman Rudra Pratap Singh took four for 33 Thursday as India dismissed New Zealand A for 153 in its second innings to leave itself 206 for victory. The New Zealander had taken a 52-run first innings lead, scoring 332 and dismissing India for 280.
Subramaniam Badrinath made an unbeaten 70 as India A reached its winning target in 68.2 overs. T.P. Singh made 46 and Piyush Chawla was 26 not out as India made 209 for seven.
India A slipped to 44 for four and 175 for seven in its second innings Friday before reaching its winning target with three wickets standing. Test offspinner Jeetan Patel took three for 46 as New Zealand A fought hard to save the match.
Scoreboard
Australia ‘A’ (1st Innings 510-6)
Pakistan ‘A’ (1st Innings 431)
Australia ‘A’ (2nd innings)
C. J. L. Rogers c Rafatullah b Rehman 16
P. A. Jaques c Misbahul Haq b Khalil 48
M. J. Cosgrove c Bazid b Rehman 2
T. R. Birt c Khalil b Rehman 2
S. R. Watson not out 63
B. J. Haddin c Salman b Khalil 0
M. G. Johnson c Hasan Raza b Rehman 6
B. J. Hodge not out 21
EXTRAS (lb 3, w 1, nb 3) 7
TOTAL (6 wickets dec; 62 overs) 165
DID NOT BAT: C. B. Bailey, S. W. Tait, D. J. Cullen
FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-57, 3-64, 4-86, 5-86, 6-117
BOWLING: Wasim Khan 16-2-43-0; Mohammad Khalil 10-4-32-2; Mohammad Irshad 8-2-30-0; Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-6-0; Abdur Rehman 26-8-51-4.
Pakistan A 2nd innings (target: 245 runs)
Rafatullah Mohmand b Watson 40
Shahid Yousuf c Watson b Johnson 19
Misbahul Haq c Rogers b Johnson 5
Bazid Khan c Cullen b Bailey 8
Hasan Raza not out 50
Mohammad Hafeez not out 6
EXTRAS (b 5, lb 6, w 6) 17
TOTAL (4 wickets; 30 overs) 145
DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Salman, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Khalil, Wasim Khan, Mohammad Irshad.
FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-59, 3-84, 4-94
BOWLING: S. W. Tait 6-1-24-0; M. G. Johnson 5-1-39-2; S. R. Watson 6-1-23-1; D. J. Cullen 3-1-13-0; C. B. Bailey 10-2-35-1
UMPIRES: G. A. Baxter (New Zealand) and R. J. Tucker
MATCH REFEREE: D. J. Harper
|
|
|
|
