CAIRNS: Opener Azhar Ali hit an unbeaten 82 and spinner Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets as Pakistan thrashed a modest Cricket Australia XI by 210 runs in Cairns on Saturday.
The tourists declared their second innings at 216 for six and then polished off the CA XI for 109 off 27.3 overs to win early on the final day of their three-day day-night game ahead of next week’s first Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Pakistan set the CA XI a target of 311 run but the inexperienced home side never got within range with left-arm spinner Nawaz snaring three for 31 and pacemen Mohammad Amir and Rahat Ali each capturing two wickets.
Ali added 38 to his overnight score and struck three of his seven fours and two sixes on the final day before the Pakistan declaration to set up the result.
Nawaz was unbeaten alongside Ali on 36 off 47 balls, with Sarfraz Ahmed the only man to be dismissed on Saturday, bowled for 39.
“We were very satisfied with what we got,” Ali said. “Everyone got time in the middle – that was the most important thing.
“Getting runs is a different thing but spending time and getting used to (the pink ball) is very important.”
Pakistan are coming off a two-Test series defeat in New Zealand and have lost their last nine Tests in Australia going back to 1999.
“As a team we really want to improve,” Ali said. “Fielding is really important, catching in Test matches if you catch well generally you end up getting a result.”
Pakistan 208 (Y. Khan 54, S. Ahmed 39; C. Valente 4-36, M.Steketee 3-47) and 216-5 declared (A. Ali 82 not out, M. Nawaz 36 not out; R. Lees 2-28) beat CA XI 114 (J Winter 39; M. Amir 3-15, R. Ali 3-26, W. Riaz 3-28) and 109 (A.Nair 42; M. Nawaz 3-31) by 210 runs.
