Quantcast

Match Report:

Scorecard

Pope claims five but Asad keeps Pakistan in command

Pakistan's in-form stars warmed up for the Domain Test series but flame-haired leg-spinner Lloyd Pope did his best to disrupt preparations

Teenage spinner Lloyd Pope snared 5-100 but veteran batsman Asad Shafiq was able to restore order for Pakistan in the two-day tour match at the WACA Ground.

Pakistan finished day one at 7-386, with Shafiq scoring an unbeaten 101 and Shan Masood (76), Babar Azam (63), Kashif Bhatti (56*) and Iman ul-Haq (44) also chipping in with handy scores.

But it was a different story early as Pope weaved his magic for a baby-faced Cricket Australia XI outfit that featured just five players with first-class experience.

Pakistan were struggling at 3-80 and 5-164 on a day where the mercury edged past 38 degrees.

Abid Ali fell for a duck in just the second over of the day denting his hopes of a debut at the Gabba next Thursday, and Pakistan were looking shaky when Pope snared the scalps of Imam and Haris Sohail (two) shortly before lunch.

Masood, Azam, and Shafiq helped drag Pakistan out of trouble, but Pope continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals.

Azam, who scored 157 against a powerful Australia A squad earlier in the week, was on track for another big score before becoming Pope's fourth victim.

Brilliant Babar posts unbeaten hundred

But Shafiq, who scored 119 earlier in the week, was able to keep Pope at bay.

Pope burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old last year when he snared 7-87 in just his second first-class game.

The flame-haired spinner hasn't played a Shield game this summer, but his performance against Pakistan is sure to put him back in the selection mix for South Australia.

"It's pretty awesome," Pope said of his success against Pakistan.

Shafiq shows class with disciplined century

"Five-for in any format against anyone is a bowler's dream. I was very privileged and happy to get it today, especially on a fast bowler's wicket.

"It's nice it turned a little bit, and there were some good catches from the boys."

Pakistan are using the match as their final warm-up ahead of the first Domain Test against Australia, starting on Thursday at the Gabba.

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

Warm-up match: Australia A v Pakistan, match drawn

Warm-up match: v Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA Ground

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)