CAIRNS, Australia: Pakistan comprehensively overpowered Cricket Australia XI by 210 runs, thanks to the unbeaten 82 from opener Azhar Ali and 3 wickets of Mohammad Nawaz in Cairns on Saturday.
The tourists started off by posting 208 in their first innings , the highlight of the inning being 54 from Veteran player Younis Khan. In reply CA XI could only manage 114 as they seemed to have no answer to Mohammad Amir’s fiery spell , who took 3 wickets for 15 only.
Pakistan declared their second innings at 216 for six. Azhar Ali added 38 to his overnight score and struck three of his seven fours and two sixes, being 82 not out 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.
The tourists then restricted the CA XI for 109 off 27.3 overs to win early on the final day of the 3-day day-night game ahead of next week´s first Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Left-arm spinner Nawaz took three for 31 and pace-men Mohammad Amir and Rahat Ali each captured two wickets.
Pakistan are coming off a two-Test series defeat in New Zealand and have lost their last nine Tests in Australia since 1999.
Scores:
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.
