Pakistan finished the opening day of their final warm-up fixture on a solid note against the Professional County Club Select XI at Beckenham. Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas shared six wickets to bowl out the hosts for 305, before Pakistan’s openers closed unbeaten at 44 for 0.
Bowlers Set Up Strong Position on Day One
Pakistan’s pace and spin combination dominated large parts of the innings despite a stubborn batting effort from the PCC Select XI. Mohammad Abbas struck early, removing England opener Emilio Gay for a 12-ball duck after a loud caught-behind appeal off the very first delivery of the match. Abbas followed that breakthrough by dismissing James Rew for 4, then returned later to claim Caleb Falconer, finishing with figures of 3 for 37.
Mohammad Ali matched him wicket for wicket, taking out Tom Haines, Luc Benkenstein and Noah Thain to end with 3 for 23 from his ten overs. Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad picked up one wicket apiece, while Shahzad also accounted for the final wicket of Shoaib Bashir.
Home Batters Fight Back With Four Half-Centuries
The PCC Select XI found their footing through the middle overs after early setbacks. Tom Haines raced to 51 off just 35 balls before falling lbw to Ali, and Saif Zaib built the innings’ most substantial partnership alongside Falconer, adding 110 runs together.
Zaib went on to reach his half-century with a single off Salman Agha, only to be caught on the boundary attempting a hook off Shahzad. He made 65. Falconer soon followed after reaching fifty of his own, caught behind off Abbas for 59. Both batters survived reprieves during their innings, with Falconer dropped on 29 and Zaib given a life on 18 when a stumping chance went abegging.
Matthew Fisher provided the late resistance the PCC Select XI needed, combining with James Sales for a 55-run stand before finishing unbeaten on 62. Fisher struck a six off Ali Usman to bring up his half-century, and he stayed not out as the innings folded for 305 in 69.5 overs.
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Pakistan Openers Survive Testing New-Ball Spell
Pakistan’s reply began under pressure, with Imam-ul-Haq dropped early by Gay off Nathan Gilchrist when he had scored just 14. The opener made the most of his second chance, finishing the day unbeaten on 26 alongside Azan Awais, who remained not out on 15. The pair batted through 13 overs without further alarm, taking Pakistan to 44 for 0 at the close of play.
This tour match, reduced from four days to three because of player availability, marks Pakistan’s last hitout before the opening Test of the series begins at Headingley on August 19. All 14 members of the touring squad have been given game time across the fixture. With both openers set and the bowling attack among wickets, Pakistan will look to build on the position when play resumes on day two.
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