Imam and Azan stand firm after Abbas and Ali share six wickets in Beckenham tour match.
Pakistan’s tour of England commenced with a highly productive opening day as the visitors restricted the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI to 305 before making a solid, unscathed start with the bat in their three-day warm-up match at the Kent County Cricket Ground.
Having won the toss and elected to bat first, the PCC Select XI faced early jitters against a disciplined Pakistani pace attack. Veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas struck in his second over, removing opener Emilio Gay for a duck. Abbas, lethal as ever in English conditions, later accounted for James Rew and the well-set Caleb Falconer to finish with figures of 3-37.
The home side found brief momentum through captain Tom Haines, who blasted a rapid 51 off 35 balls, smashing 12 boundaries before being trapped leg-before by Mohammad Ali. Ali proved to be the most economical and effective bowler of the day, ripping through the middle and lower order to claim 3-23 in his ten overs.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the PCC Select XI found stability through half-centuries from Saif Zaib (65) and Falconer (59). However, a middle-order collapse engineered by Khurram Shahzad (2-55) saw the hosts slide from 179-3 to a precarious 227-8. A spirited, unbeaten lower-order cameo by Matthew Fisher, who smashed 62 off just 53 deliveries with ten fours and a six, eventually pushed the hosts past the 300-mark before Khurram wrapped up the innings at 305.
In reply, Pakistan’s opening pair showed immense composure under fading light. The experienced Imam-ul-Haq looked in pristine touch, striking four boundaries in his unbeaten 26 off 29 balls. Partnering him was young prospect Azan Awais, who played a more anchored role, accumulating a patient 15 off 49 balls.
The duo safely negotiated a tricky 13-over spell against the new ball from Matthew Fisher and Josh Hull. Pakistan ended the day comfortably placed at 44 without loss, trailing the hosts by 261 runs, with all ten wickets intact.
Summarised scores
PCC Select XI 305 all out in 69.5 overs (Saif Zaib 65, Matthew Fisher 62*, Caleb Falconer 59, Tom Haines 51; Mohammad Ali 3-23, Mohammad Abbas 3-37, Khurram Shahzad 2-55)
Pakistan 44-0 in 13 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 26*, Azan Awais 15*)
Status: Pakistan trail by 261 runs with ten wickets remaining in the 1st innings.
