Published: Oct 06, 2015, 08:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 06, 2015, 08:58 PM (IST)
Sharjah: Off-spinner Moeen Ali grabbed three wickets as England bowlers had to work hard against Pakistan’s A side on a flat wicket under warm conditions in a drawn game in Sharjah on Tuesday. Ali, who could prove a handy spinner in the three-Test series against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi on October 13, finished with 3-41 as Pakistan A managed 216 for five at the close on the second and final day. England had declared at their first day’s score of 286 for 5. The Pakistan A team is mostly comprised of players knocking at the door of international cricket.
Iftikhar Ahmed hit an unbeaten 92 while Fawad Alam made 55. Alam, recalled to the squad for the Tests, hit seven boundaries in a laborious 147-ball knock before falling to Ali, who also dismissed opener Khurram Manzoor (16) and Ali Asad (7). Ahmed, declared best batsman in Pakistan’s National Twenty20 tournament last month, hit five fours and two sixes during his 209-ball stay at the crease. Pacemen James Anderson and Mark Wood finished with a wicket apiece while Stuart Broad bowled 11 wicket-less overs.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid also failed to get a wicket in his 20 overs. England have another two-day warm-up game, against the same opposition at the same venues on October 8 and 9, before the first Test. The two other Tests are in Dubai (October 22-26) and Sharjah (November 1-5). Both teams will also play four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 after the Tests.
Brief scores:
England 286 for 5 decl. (Alastair Cook 53, Joe Root 59, Jonny Bairstow 66*, Adil Rashid 51*; Zafar Gohar 3 for 72) drew with Pakistan A 216 for 5 (Iftikhar Ahmed 92*, Fawad Alam 55; Moeen Ali 3 for 41).
