KARACHI: Upcoming wicket-keeper/batsman Mohammad Hasan scored a fine 98 as Pakistan ‘A’ earned a healthy lead of 111 on the first innings against Yorkshire at Headingley (Leeds) on Tuesday.

On a truncated penultimate day of the four-day first-class fixture, Pakistan added 16 runs to their overnight score of 341-8 before being dismissed for 357 in reply to Yorkshire’s 246.

Yorkshire then negotiated 18.2 overs to collect 57 without loss in their second innings when heavy rains forced umpires Graham Lloyd and Tom Lungley to call off play for the day.

Hasan, who began the day on 88, was out after adding just 10 runs to his overnight score. His 140-ball innings was laced with 18 boundaries.

On Monday, Pakistan ‘A’ suffered a middle-order collapse after opener Jaahid Ali had compiled a solid 64 from 111 balls with 10 fours. Fakhar Zaman, batting at No 3, hit five boundaries and three sixes in making 49 from 106 deliveries, while skipper Babar Azam made a 63-ball 45 with nine fours.

Jaahid and Fakhar added 113 for the second wicket but once they were dismissed, Pakistan ‘A’ lost Umar Siddique and vice-captain Mohammad Nawaz cheaply with both left-handers failing to open their account.

But Hasan held the innings together in the company of fast bowler Hasan Ali. The two Hasans shared an invaluable eighth-wicket stand of 90. Hasan Ali used the long handle effectively to smash three sixes and three fours in a 53-ball 41.

First-class debutant Elliott Callis was the mainstay of Yorkshire batting on the opening day of the match as the 21-year-old right-handed opener scored 84 off 157 balls with the aid of 11 boundaries.

Left-arm seamer Mir Hamza (4-53 in 19.4 overs) and Hasan Ali 93-69 in 18) shared the bowling honours for the touring team.

Summarised scores:

YORKSHIRE 246 in 75.4 overs (E. Callis 84, Azeem Rafiq 48, J.A. Leaning 33; Mir Hamza 4-53, Hasan Ali 3-69) and 57-0 in 18.2 overs (E. Callis 30 not out); PAKISTAN ‘A’ 357 in 98.4 overs (Mohammad Hasan 98, Jaahid Ali 64, Fakhar Zaman 49, Babar Azam 45, Hasan Ali 41, Sharjeel Khan 25; J. Shaw 3-58, Azeem Rafiq 3-60).

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2016