Rain sees Pakistan draw with Sussex

LONDON: Pakistan's final match before next week's first Test with England ended in a draw after rain meant no play was possible on the final day of three against Sussex at Hove on Sunday.

Not a ball was bowled at south coast county Sussex's headquarters on Sunday, with the umpires finally abandoning the match as a draw at 2:30pm local time (1330 GMT).

Pakistan were 143 runs ahead after reaching Saturday's second day stumps at 71 for one in their second innings.



They had been in a strong position after the first day's play as Azhar Ali's 145 - his second hundred of the tour after he made an unbeaten 101 in the drawn opener against Somerset - took Pakistan to a total of 363 for five declared.

But Sussex responded well on Saturday as Harry Finch (103) made his maiden first-class century and shared a 212-run opening stand with Luke Wells (93).

MATCH ABANDONED AS A DRAW DUE TO RAIN @TheRealPCB #SUSvPAK #GOSBTS

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) July 10, 2016

Pakistan, however, bit back with four wickets for 21 runs before Sussex declared on 291 for five, 72 runs adrift.

Now Pakistan will travel up to London where the first of a four-Test series starts against England at Lord's on Thursday.

It has been a pleasure to host @TheRealPCB for the last 3 days. Their team and staff are fantastic. Best of luck for the rest of the summer!

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) July 10, 2016

This will be England's first home series against Pakistan since the infamous 2010 campaign.



That year's Lord's Test saw Pakistan seamers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, together with captain Salman Butt, given five-year bans and jail terms for deliberately bowling no-balls as part of a newspaper sting operation.

Left-arm fast bowler Amir returned to international cricket earlier this year and the 24-year-old could now make his Test comeback at Lord's.

He bowled impressively against Somerset but was rested for the Sussex fixture.