Sharjah: Top order batsmen Shan Mashood, Ahmad Shehzad, Iftikhar Ahmad and wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal cracked half centuries to help Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Patron’s XI post a challenging 308 runs in the first innings of the three-day match against West Indies at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium — but none of the batsmen got a call into the Test squad.
With the first Test of the three-match series set to commence from October 13 at Dubai International stadium, Mashood and Shehzad played with caution against a West Indies attack that could not get a break through after the first wicket of Mohammad Hafeez had fallen for a duck.
Mashood cracked 58 runs off 191 balls with three boundaries and two sixes while Shehzad scored 52 off 130 balls with four boundaries and a six and recorded a 101-run partnership for the second wicket.
Iftikhar Ahmad, who made his Test debut in August against England and scored only four runs in the only innings he got to bat at the Oval, cracked 63 runs off 103 balls with six boundaries and two sixes.
Patrons XI skipper Fawad Alam fell in the 81st over after scoring 32.
Akmal’s half century came on the second day when Pakistan resumed from their first day’s score of 241 for five. He was overnight on 26 but went for his shots on the second day.
Though he lost his partner Asif Zakir, who was caught and bowled by Devendra Bishoo for 17, Akmal took the score to 296 before getting bowled by Jason Holder for 69 off 67 balls. He hit ten boundaries, the maximum number of boundaries by any batsman in the innings by displaying his ability to pick the gaps.
Pakistan reached the 300-run mark in the 103rd over with Junaid Khan and Shahzaib Ahmad at the crease. Bishoo picked his fifth wicket by trapping Junaid leg before for nine.
After Junaid fell, Jason Holder wiped off the tail-enders by dismissing Shahzaib leg before for one and then knocking the stumps off of last man Ahmad Jamal for four.
Bishoo was the pick among the bowlers with a spell of five for 107 backed by his skipper Holder with three for 38.
West Indies began their chase through Kraigg Brathwaite and Leon Johnson.
Pakistan opening bowlers bowled with good control. Junaid Khan gave away just one run in his first over while Imran Khan bowled a maiden to Brathwaite. The first five overs produced just six runs.
By the tea break, West Indies were 15 for no loss but with no boundaries scored from the nine overs bowled.
Just before the break, Pakistan announced their Test team with middle-order batsman Babar Azam and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz getting called up for the first time. Iftikhar, Mashood, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Hafeez were left out of the group that toured England this summer.
Pakistan Test team: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Imran Khan, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Sami Aslam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Babar Azam and Mohammad Nawaz.
