BECKENHAM: Spinner Ali Usman grabbed five wickets and Saud Shakeel cracked an unbeaten century as Pakistan in an impressive comeback recorded a facile seven-wicket victory over Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI here at the Kent County Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Chasing 262 on the final day of the three-day practice match, the tourists completed the task in 57.1 overs for the loss of just three wickets.
Coming in to bat at No.3 following the dismissal of opener Azan Awais (one), left-handed Saud took charge top-scoring for the tourists with an unbeaten 100 off 147 deliveries, studded with 10 fours and three sixes. He in the process shared a 127-run partnership with opener Imam-ul-Haq, who struck an 88-ball 80 laced with 13 fours.
Wicket-keeper/batter Mohammad Rizwan (33) and middle-order batter Awais Zafar (30 not out) made handy contributions in the run chase.
For PCC Select XI, Josh Hull, Manny Lumsden and Nathan Gilchrist claimed a wicket apiece.
Earlier on Saturday, the PCC Select XI side resumed their second innings from 128-3, leading by 195 runs.
The hosts, however, could add only 66 more to their overnight total and were bowled out for a meagre 194.
Falconer, who scripted a spirited start to their second innings with a half-century on the previous day, remained the top-scorer for the PCC Select XI with a run-a-ball 56.
Fellow middle-order batter Saif Zaib and No.10 Manny Lumsden remained notable run-getters for the home side on the final day, scoring 24 each.
For Pakistan, Ali led the bowling charge in the second innings as the slow left-arm orthodox spinner claimed five wickets for 42 runs. Pacer Ubaid Shah took two wickets for nine while Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan and Mohammad Ali chipped in with one apiece.
The victory serves as a boost for Pakistan ahead of their three-match Test series against England starting in Leeds on Aug 19.
Brief scores:
Pakistan beat PCC Select XI by seven wickets.
PCC SELECT XI 305 (S. Zaib 65, M. Fisher 62 not out, C. Falconer 59; T. Haines 51; M. Ali 3-23, M. Abbas 3-37) and 194 (C. Falconer 56, J. Rew 40; A. Usman 5-42, U. Shah 2-9)
PAKISTAN 238 (A. Shafique 61; S. Bashir 4-76) and 264-3 (S. Shakeel 100 not out, I. ul-Haq 80 retired not out).
Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2026