Pakistan ‘A’ in prime position, eye win over NZ ‘A’ in Dubai

dubai — Pakistan ‘A’ put themselves in prime position and towards a probable win after the second day of the four-day unofficial Test against New Zealand ‘A’ at the ICC Academy Oval on Wednesday.

Mohammad Rizwan’s side had the visitors in a deep hole and in trouble after having declared their first innings on 346. When stumps were drawn for the day, New Zealand ‘A’ were precariously placed on 168 for six, still 178 runs in arrears.

With the tail to follow, it would take some sort of miracle for Jeet Raval’s touring team to make a fist of this against a Pakistan ‘A’ side who have hardly put a foot wrong so far. Todd Astle, named in the New Zealand Test squad to face Pakistan in the three-match Test series over the next fortnight, will resume on the morrow on 12 and giving him company will be Kyle Jamieson on one.

Earlier, resuming on 300 for five, Pakistan ‘A’ added 46 runs before Rizwan declared just before lunch on 346 for nine, to give his bowlers ample time to have a go at the visitors. Centurion Shan Masood added four runs to his overnight score of 164 before the southpaw fell leg before to Kyle Jamieson. Saud Shakeel soon followed but Kashif Bhatti’s cameo of 35 from 43 balls with three boundaries and a six saw Pakistan ‘A’ swell their total.

Scott Kuggeleijn finished with four wickets, while Jamieson and Blair Tickner picked three and two respectively.

And it wasn’t that New Zealand ‘A’ were mediocre with the bat. Three of their batsmen all had starts but the visitors were kept in check by the Pakistan ‘A’ bowling attack. Rachin Ravindra showed he was one for the future with the 18-year-old southpaw scoring a defiant 70 from 119 deliveries with 10 boundaries, while left-handed opener George Worker showed tremendous amount of patience in making 30 from 90 deliveries with five boundaries.

All five bowlers used were amongst the wickets with left-arm pacer Taj Wali taking two.