Hafeez, Imran shine in tour opener

Published January 7, 2007

KIMBERLEY (South Africa), Jan 6: Openers Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat both scored centuries as Pakistan piled on the runs on the opening day of their three-day tour match against the Rest of South Africa on Saturday.

Pakistan finished the first day on 401 for three, although the Rest of South Africa actually only captured one wicket, with both Hafeez and Imran retiring.

Hafeez, who was dropped on 12 by J-P Duminy off Albie Morkel, raced to a run-a-ball century, being particularly severe on former Test spinner Paul Adams.

Hafeez batted on to score 108 in 170 minutes before retiring, while Imran stayed for another 45 minutes before retiring on 106.

Yasir Hameed (79) and Younis Khan (74 not out) also joined the run-feast with left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdullah eventually becoming the first bowler to enjoy success when he found the edge of Yasir’ bat in the 72nd over.

Pakistan begin a three-Test series against South Africa in Centurion on Thursday.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN (1st Innings):

Mohammad Hafeez retired out 108

Imran Farhat retired out 106

Yasir Hameed c Bodi b Abdullah 79

Younis Khan not out 74

Faisal Iqbal not out 23

EXTRAS (LB-10, NB-1) 11

TOTAL (for three wkts, 90 overs) 401

FALL OF WKTS: 1-182, 2-232, 3-340.

TO BAT: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.

BOWLING (to-date): Kruger 17-3-64-0; Abdullah 15-3-56-1 (1nb); Morkel 15-1-69-0; Adams 19-3-89-0; Botha 21-0-102-0; Bodi 3-0-11-0.

REST OF SOUTH AFRICA: H.H. Dippenaar, A. Jacobs, V.B. van Jaarsveld, J-P Duminy, G.H. Bodi, M.N. van Wyk, J.A. Morkel, G.J.P. Kruger, J. Botha, Y.A. Abdullah, P.R. Adams.

UMPIRES: B.G. Jerling and R.E. Koertzen.

MATCH REFEREE: A. Barnes.—Agencies

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