LONDON, Aug 2: Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar inspired Durham to victory over Somerset with an eight-wicket haul in the English county championship on Friday and then revealed that he is still uncertain over whether or not he will return home for the Test series against Bangladesh.
Shoaib took four for nine off seven overs as Somerset were bowled out for 56 in their second innings to lose the Division Two game at the Riverside by 318 runs. He had already snared 4-39 in the first innings.
“I had permission to play half a season for Durham, but Mohammed Sami’s injury has changed that,” said Shoaib.
“It’s an honour for me to play for Pakistan, but we have just had the news and we are talking about it. Playing county cricket is a great learning process for me. I’m bowling every day and getting stronger, and I’m enjoying every bit of it.
“Durham are a young side and they really want to win. I’m helping them do that and nothing could be better than this.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan made a match-winning debut for Kent when he took six wickets to inspire his team to a 55-run win against Essex.
After finishing wicketless in the first innings, Murali turned on the style at Canterbury when Essex batted again as he took 6-61 as the visitors were dismissed for 235.
Set 291 to win, Essex had resumed on 24-1 but they crumbled to 235 all out as only Andy Flower, with 83, standing firm at the crease.
Muralitharan is in his second spell in the county championship having previously played for Lancashire.
Close of play scores on Friday:
Division One:
At Canterbury: Kent beat Essex by 55 runs. Kent 189 (E.T. Smith 108; A Palladino 6-41) and 284 (D.P. Fulton 94 not out; J. Middlebrook 4-78); Essex 183 (R.C. Irani 52; M.A. Ealham 5-26, A. Khan 4-65) and 235 (A. Flower 83; M. Muralitharan 6-61)
At Leicester: Leicestershire 259 (P.A.J. DeFreitas 57, D.I. Stevens 54; G. Keedy 4-17) and 156-2 (J. Maunders 56 not out, D.I. Stevens 50); Lancashire 479 (S.G. Law 186, C.L. Hooper 117; P.A.J. DeFreitas 6-88).
At Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 254 (K. Pietersen 67; A.A. Noffke 5-52) and 160-5 (G. Welton 69); Middlesex 278 (S. Koenig 75; S.C.G. MacGill 4-78, G. Smith 4-57).
At Hove: Sussex 429 (C.J. Adams 107, R.R. Montgomerie 90, M.W. Goodwin 75; J. Ormond 4-106) and 69-2; Surrey 355 (M.R. Ramprakash 104, Saqlain Mushtaq 68; Mushtaq Ahmed 4-123).
Division Two:
At Rose Bowl: No play on Friday due to rain. Hampshire 278 (S.M. Katich 117); Northamptonshire 76-0 (T. Roberts 56 not out).
At Worcester: Worcestershire 237 (G. Batty 60, D.A. Leatherdale 50; D. Harrison 4-52, A. Wharf 4-63) and 120-4 (S.D. Peters 56); Glamorgan 156 (I. Thomas 53).
At Chester-le-Street: Durham beat Somerset by 318 runs. Durham 345 (G. Muchall 65, N. Peng 58, G. Pratt 51) and 168 (P. Jones 5-42); Somerset 139 (V.J. Wells 4-16, Shoaib Akhtar 4-39) and 56 (N. Killeen 4-30, Shoaib Akhtar 4-9).
At Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 263 (M.G.N. Windows 73; S. Kirby 6-101); Yorkshire 226 (G.M. Hamilton 68).—AFP