Cricket: Naved strikes but Lancs battle back

LONDON: Pakistan’s Rana Navedul Hasan was the pick of MCC’s attack but Lancashire still fought back as 16 wickets fell on an incident-packed second day of the Champion County match in Abu Dhabi. County champions Lancashire were dismissed for 199 in reply to MCC’s first-innings 265 on the second day of the four-day fixture, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season. However, by stumps, MCC had collapsed to 81 for eight in their second innings - a lead of 148 with two wickets and two days remaining - as Lancashire left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan backed up his first innings four for 65 with three for 28. Earlier, Kerrigan was bowled by Naved, the 34-year-old paceman, who has played nine Tests, finishing with an impressive haul of three for 31.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2012.