TOWNSVILLE: Umar Akmal was 100 not out and Sarfraz Ahmed scored an unbeaten 50 as Pakistan ‘A’ overcame early second-innings batting problems to hold Australia ‘A’ to a draw in a four-day match that ended on Monday.

Set 318 off 60 overs for a final-day win, Pakistan ‘A’ were in trouble at 77-4 and then 109-5 before Akmal and Ahmed combined to get the visitors to 207-5 for a draw.

Off-spinner Jason Krejza top-scored for Australia ‘A’ with an unbeaten 101, but took just one wicket in 31 overs.

Krejza, who hasn’t played a test since being dumped following Australia’s December loss to South Africa in Perth, finished with match figures of 1-147 after taking 1-79 from 14 overs on the final day.

Krejza’s century was well supported by knocks of 76 and 78 from Moises Henriques and Adam Voges, respectively.

Ahmed hit Krejza for five consecutive boundaries in his final over to bring up his half-century.

Australia ‘A’ scored 399 and 256-5 declared while Pakistan ‘A’ scored 338 in their first innings.

Earlier, pacer Wahab Riaz took five wickets in the Australians’ first innings, with help from fast bowler Mohammad Talha and spinner Abdur Rehman, who chipped in with two wickets each.

The visitors replied impressively, scoring 388 runs in their first innings before being bowled out in 96 overs. Opener Azhar Ali topscored for Pakistan ‘A’ with 78 runs while Umar Akmal, Fahad Iqbal and Sarfraz Ahmed also contributed in coming close to the Australian total.

Australia ‘A’ declared their innings at 256 for five, with a lead of 317 runs, thanks to contributions from most their batsmen, while Riaz took another couple of wickets to take his match figures to 7-153.

Akaml and Ahmed came to Pakistan’s rescue with aggressive knocks and sailed their side to safety.

The teams play a second four-day match beginning Friday, again at Riverway Stadium in Townsville.