Pakistan Tour of England: Pakistan in Command at Canterbury vs Kent
The touring Pakistanis made a strong comeback after being bowled out for only a par first innings total on day two of their first First-class match against Kent at Canterbury.
Resuming from the overnight score of 2 for no loss, the hosts were bundled out for 259 runs in their first innings, as left armer Mohammad Aamer gave another notice to the world about his growing abilities as a great international prospect.
Aamer, who is being touted as the next Wasim Akram, consolidated his position as one of the leading bowlers in Pakistan’s squad by claiming five wickets in conditions that suited his swing bowling, bowled at a disconcertingly sharp pace.
The Kent opening pair of Matt Coles and Joe Denly was separated with the total on 31, as Aamer claimed his first scalp with a delivery that went through Coles’ defence. The opening batsman managed to make 12 runs off 26 balls.
In an inspired burst of pace bowling, Aamer removed the next two batsmen (James Hockley and Chris Piesley), while Umar Gul also chipped in with a wicket of his own, as the hosts crashed to 33 for 4 from 31 for no loss.
It was Denly who held the innings together from the other end, negotiating the seam, swing and pace of the Pakistani trio of pacers as he looked set for a big score.
Denly added 89 runs with Goodman for the fifth wicket to resurrect the Kent team from their poor start. Denly was dismissed for 63 by the then rampaging Aamer, who collected his fourth wicket of the day.
The sixth wicket fell for 160 when former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who was leading Kent, fell to Umar Gul. He was snapped in the outfield by pacer Wahab Riaz, who is touring England with the Pakistan team for the first time.
Goodman became the only success of the day for Wahab Riaz, who bowled him for 59 runs that included six hits to the fence.
Paul Dixey became Aamer’s fifth victim, when he played a delivery straight in the hands of the only centurion of the match to date, Umar Akmal (who made 153 in the first innings for Pakistan).
Lawson and Joseph added 51 runs for the ninth wicket stand that helped Kent get closer to Pakistan’s score.
Lawson clubbed 31 off 34 balls; his knock included fiver fours and one six. He was dismissed by off-spinner Shoaib Malik, who cleaned up the Kent response with the wicket of last man Dewald Nel for 4 runs.
The Pakistanis made a poor start again as vice-captain Salman Butt was dismissed the same way as he was in the first innings by Azhar Mahmood. The lefthander was caught on the crease, and was sent back to the pavilion via an lbw decision, managing only 9 runs off 8 balls.
The second wicket partnership between Fawad Alam and Umar Amin has consolidated Pakistan’s position, with the duo adding 72 runs without having been separated till the end of day’s play.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was indisposed throughout the day due to a side strain.
Speaking to the media later on, he brushed aside the injury, claiming it was only a minor strain and he was only taking a precautionary rest in the warm-up game.
The real test for the tourists starts on the 5th of next month, when they take on the Aussies in their first T20 match at Birmingham.
The second match is on 7th July, which will be followed by two test-match series that take place at Lords and Headingley Leeds.
The series against Australia is extremely crucial for the Pakistanis, who have lost their last 12 test matches to them; a run that started in Brisbane in 1999.
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