by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
The Second day of the four-day match against Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra started with dark clouds looming over the horizon, threatening to pierce themselves at a moment’s notice. This did not dampen the high spirits of Shan Masood who effortlessly helmed towards his double century as his team-mates kept on falling all around him. Masood’s figures helped Pakistan reach 391/9 when the team declared the innings and invited the PMXI batters onto the field.
Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali did not roll their arms over at Canberra, hinting at the fact that the Pakistan team is trying to see who will fill the boots of injured Naseem Shah. Mir Hamza, Khurram Shehzad, Aamer Jamal, and Faheem Ashraf – all four took their turns with the ball. However, it was the team’s very own magician, Abrar Ahmed, who drew the first blood, asking Marcus Harris to take on a length ball and mistime it to the fielder at mid-on. The second opener went in off a Khurram Shehzad ball aimed at his pads.
The day ended with Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green at the crease, trying to brew a partnership, with the scoreboard reading 149/2. Trailing 242 runs behind Pakistan’s total, the Nathan McSweeney-led team will wish to quickly get a lead and trouble Pakistan on what will be the penultimate day of the game.
