SHARJAH: Off-spinner Moeen Ali grabbed three wickets as England bowlers had to work hard against Pakistan’s A side on a flat wicket under warm conditions in a drawn game in Sharjah on Tuesday.

Moeen, who could prove a handy spinner in the three-Test series against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi on Oct 13, finished with 3-41 as Pakistan ‘A’ managed 216 for five at the close on the second and final day.

England had declared at their first day’s score of 286-5.

The Pakistan ‘A’ team is mostly comprised of players knocking at the door of international cricket.

Iftikhar Ahmed hit an unbeaten 92 while Fawad Alam made 55.

Fawad, recalled to the squad for the Tests, hit seven boundaries in a laborious 147-ball knock before falling to Ali, who also dismissed opener Khurram Manzoor (16) and Ali Asad (seven).

Iftikhar hit five fours and two sixes during his 209-ball stay at the crease.

Pacemen James Anderson and Mark Wood finished with a wicket apiece.

England have another two-day warm-up game, against the same opposition at the same venue on Thursday and Friday, before the first Test.

Final scores:

ENGLAND 286-5 declared (J.M. Bairstow 66 not out, J.E. Root 59, A.N. Cook 53, Adil Rashid 51 not out, Moeen Ali 22; Zafar Gohar 3-72); PAKISTAN ‘A’ 216-5 (Iftikhar Ahmed 92 not out, Fawad Alam 55, Adnan Akmal 26 not out; Moeen Ali 3-41).

Published in Dawn, October 7th , 2015

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