WHANGAREI (New Zealand): Fawad Alam and captain Rohail Nazir both scored as Pakistan Shaheens made brilliant recovery on day three of their four-day fixture against New Zealand ‘A’ at the cob ham Oval here on Saturday.

The tourists, who were struggling at 64-4 in their second innings and just 32 runs in front, rode on the magnificent 215-run partnership between Fawad and young Rohail to post 318-9 at draw of stumps with a healthy lead of 286.

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry put the home side in control upfront after Pakistan Shaheens began the penultimate day at 15-1 by sending back Shan Masood (14) before Michael Rae dismissed Imran Butt (10) and Azhar Ali (29).

But the left-handed Fawad and Rohail then batted with great determination to put New Zealand ‘A’ on the defensive as they remained together in the middle for 246 minutes when the right-handed Rohail departed for exactly 100 (164 balls, 11 fours and two sixes). It was the 19-year-old wicket-keeper’s second first-class hundred.

Fawad cemented his spot for the Boxing Day Test in Mount Maunganui by reaching his 36th first-class century before becoming the fifth wicket for Henry when he edged a catch to wicket-keeper Cam Fletcher. The 35-year-old’s 139 from 233 balls in 320 minutes included 11 boundaries.

Henry had figures of five for 52 in 24 overs with Rae claiming 3-75 from 17 overs. Ed Nuttall — New Zealand ‘A’s bowling hero on the opening day with 5-54 — bowled just two overs on Saturday before limping off with an undisclosed injury.

PAKISTAN SHAHEENS (1st Innings) 194 (Azhar Ali 57, Imran Butt 27, Rohail Nazir 21; E.J. Nuttall 5-54, N.G. Smith 3-29).

NEW ZEALAND ‘A’ (1st Innings) 226 (R. Ravindra 70, C.D. Fletcher 57, N.G. Smith 40, K.J. McClure 24; Mohammad Abbas 4-40, Amad Butt 3-22, Yasir Shah 3-54).

PAKISTAN SHAHEENS (2nd Innings, overnight 15-1):

Shan Masood c Bracewell b Henry 14

Abid Ali b Nuttall 1

Azhar Ali lbw b Rae 29

Imran Butt c Ravindra b Rae 10

Fawad Alam c Fletcher b Henry 139

Rohail Nazir c Cooper b Henry 100

Amad Butt c Carter b Henry 0

Yasir Shah c Cooper b Henry 8

Sohail Khan c sub b Rae 3

Mohammad Abbas not out 0

Naseem Shah not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-11, NB-2) 13

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 94 overs) 318

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-26, 3-49, 4-64, 5-279, 6-281, 7-295, 8-312, 9-317.

BOWLING (to-date): Henry 24-6-52-5; Nuttall 5-1-17-1 (2nb); Smith 13-4-28-0; Rae 17-3-75-3; Rippon 15-4-44-0; Ravindra 12-1-48-0; Bracewell 8-1-43-0.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2020