Australia‘s batsmen got some runs under their belt after star off-spinner Nathan Lyon finished with eight wickets in their warm-up match ahead of the two-match Test series against Pakistan.
Playing against Pakistan ‘A’ in Dubai, the Australians were 207-2 at stumps at the ICC Academy ground, trailing by 71 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Australian opener Aaron Finch (54), Shaun Marsh (54 not out), Mitchell Marsh (53 not out) and Usman Khawaja (36) got going, which will please the Aussies ahead of the first Test which starts in Dubai on October 7. The second Test is in Abu Dhabi from October 16.
The Marsh brothers added 103 runs for the third wicket after Finch and Khawaja put on 82 for the first.
Pakistan ‘A’ bowlers and Test aspirants Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali failed to get a wicket. Paceman Waqas Maqsood and part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed took a wicket each.
There was an unfortunate incident on Sunday following a head injury to Australian opener Matthew Renshaw who was hit on the helmet by batsman Abid Ali’s shot while fielding at short-leg. Interestingly, the shot bounced off Renshaw’s helmet and was caught by wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Abid, batting on 83 overnight, made 85.
Renshaw was pulled out of the match and the Australian management said he was being monitored by medical staff.
Earlier, Pakistan ‘A’ were dismissed for 278 with Lyon taking 8-103 after bowling 39.1 overs.
Lyon said he was happy to find rhythm early in the tour.
“I’m definitely confident, the ball is coming out of my hand beautifully at the moment,” said Lyon, who had a poor UAE tour in 2014, taking just three wickets in Australia’s 2-0 Test defeat.
