September 15, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 2, 1428

FAISALABAD, Sept 14: Australia ‘A’ were in sight of a thumping victory against Pakistan ‘A’ after taking a massive 458-run lead in their first innings on the penultimate day of the four-day match being played at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Friday.

Resuming the first innings at their overnight score of 438-4, Australia declared 40 minutes before tea time at a mammoth 657-8 off 170.5 overs in reply to a modest 199 by Pakistan ‘A’.

At stumps, Pakistan ‘A’ in their second innings were tottering at 86-3 in 41 overs, needing a further 372 runs to avert an innings defeat.

Australia began the day with Hopes (34) and fellow overnight centurion David Hussey (143) extending the fifth-wicket stand to 162. The home team suffered a setback when it lost two of its key bowlers Abdur Rauf and Najaf Shah to fitness problems.

Also, some wayward bowling by spin twins Atif Maqbool and Mansoor Amjad added to Pakistan’s woes. Atif gave away 187 runs for his three wickets and Mansoor conceded 178 for as many scalps.

Hussey, who looked well set for double hundred, missed out when he was caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad off Atif for a 278-ball 185. Hussey’s innings included seven fours and two sixes and he stayed at the crease for 444 minutes.

Hopes, however, continued the charge to add a third century stand of the innings. He struck a 236-ball 144 with seven boundaries and two sixes before being clean bowled by Mansoor. Ashley Noffke (39, three fours, three sixes) and Luke Ronchi (22) also used long handle in the end to give an imposing total to their side.

Rauf, who was the top-scorer in the first innings with 73 and had claimed two wickets for 71 in the Aussie innings, could not play take any part in the day’s play due to a groin problem. Najaf did manage to bowl a few overs but looked clearly bothered by back spasm.

In Pakistan ‘A’s second outing, they lost key players Taufiq Umar (29), Khalid Latif (3) and Hasan Raza (3) before Yasir Hameed (36 not out) steadied the innings.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN ‘A’ (1st innings) 199

AUSTRALIA ‘A’ (1st innings, overnight 438-4).

Phil Jaques c Khalid b Mansoor 152

Chris Rogers c Sarfraz b Rauf 56

David Hussey c Sarfraz b Atif 185

Adam Voges st Sarfraz b Atif 7

Cameron White lbw Rauf 35

James Hopes b Mansoor 144

Luke Ronchi lbw Atif 22

Ashley Noffke sub b Mansoor 39

Dan Cullen not out 4

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, W-1, NB-3) 13

TOTAL (for eight wkts, dec 170.5 overs) 657

FALL OF WKTS: 1-125, 2-256, 3-277, 4-363, 5-525, 6-561, 76-641, 8-657.

BOWLING: Najaf 29-3-79-0 (nb2); Irshad 17-1-80-0; Atif 51-2-187-3; Rauf 17-1-71-2; Mansoor 40.5-1-178-3 (nb1); Taufeeq 5-2-14-0; Hasan 11-1-39-0 (w1).

PAKISTAN ‘A’ (2nd innings):

Khalid Latif c Bollinger b Cullen 3

Taufeeq Umar lbw b Mughal 29

Yasir Hameed not out 36

Hasan Raza c Ronchi b Noffke 3

Mohammad Irshad not out 5

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-6, NB-1) 10

TOTAL (for three wkts, 41 overs) 86

FALL OF WKTS: 1-17, 2-63, 3-74.

BOWLING: Dough Bollinger 8-3-17-0 (nb1); Dan Cullen 14-3-27-1; Ashley Noffke 8-1-15-1; Stuart MacGill 11-5-18-1