Cricket Australia XI, Pakistan practice match drawn after low-key second day

The second and final practice match of Pakistan’s tour of Australia, against Cricket Australia XI, ended in a draw after a low-key second day’s play at WACA in Perth.

Pakistan declared their first innings at overnight score of 386/7 with middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq scoring an unbeaten century (101). Opener Shan Masood scored 76, Babar Azam contributed with 63 runs while tailender Kashif Bhatti remained unbeaten on 56 runs.

"Yeah, it feels great whenever you score in any form of the game, before the Test matches, it’s always good to get some runs under your belt,” said Shafiq while speaking to media after scoring the century on the first day. “This was a good batting wicket and their bowling attack was also very good so we had good practice."

 In response, the home side ended the day on 246/7 with batsmen Matthew Spoors (58), Jonathan Merlo (78) and Bradley Hope (50) all scoring half-centuries.

For Pakistan, pacers Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Musa claimed two wickets each, while leg-spinner Yasir Shah, left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti and all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed claimed one wicket each.

Rookie pacer Naseem Shah, who impressed one and all with his scintillating spell of fast-bowling in the previous practice match, failed to deliver on this occasion and went for 58 runs in 12 overs without picking a wicket.

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Shafiq led the Pakistan side in the absence of regular skipper Azhar Ali, who was not playing due to fever and throat infection.

"It’s a great opportunity for us [to win a Test series in Australia] and as our captain Azhar Ali said we have an opportuunity to create history; We have a good and exciting team and as a batsman I am excited too,” said the stand-in Pakistan captain. “It’s a great honour to play for Pakistan so we will try our level best to play some good cricket."

Pakistan have never won a Test series in Australia and last tasted victory in the longest in format of the game Down Under when they won a dead rubber at Sydney Cricket Ground in 1995.

The first Test starts on Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane, where Australia are unbeaten in Tests since 1988.