Pakistan warm-up for Australia series with win

Pakistan’s preparations for the Twenty20 series against Australia were given a further boost as they defeated Northamptonshire by six wickets in a Twenty20 match. It follows the win over Essex on Friday when Pakistan won by 66 runs. Chasing a paltry 134-run target, Pakistan got off to an ideal start provided by the in-form Shahzaib Hasan. The 20-year-old Hasan dominated a 31-run opening partnership with Kamran Akmal before adding another 30 with Fawad Alam as Pakistan went about calmly in the run-chase.

The arrival of captain Shahid Afridi put an end to any hopes that Northamptonshire had of having a close match as the all-rounder made a whirlwind 42 off just 14 deliveries and added 60 runs with Hasan  before retiring out to give Abdul Razzaq a go with the bat. Afridi hit six boundaries with two sixes while Hasan was dismissed for 64 as Pakistan completed the job with five overs to spare.

Earlier, all the Pakistan bowlers, though struggling for wickets, kept Northamptonshire batsmen under check as the hosts tried desperately to increase the tempo. Alex Wakely and Zimbabwean Elton Chigumbura managed valiant half-centuries as Northamptonshire reached 133 off their 20 overs.

Pakistan now head off to Birmingham where they will play Australia for the first of two Twenty20 internationals tomorrow.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2010.