After a precarious start to the innings when Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali were dismissed without scoring, Pakistan were indebted to Shahzaib Hasan’s century as the tourists posted 264. Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq struggled with the bat but younger players proved to solidify a faltering batting line-up with as Hasan struck 10 fours and two sixes while Fawad Alam stroked a good 97. The duo successfully strengthened Pakistan’s position with a 169-run partnership that lifted the tourists from 42 for three. The 18-year-old Lewis Gregory, who was making his debut, grabbed four wickets for Somerset to stop Pakistan go beyond the 300-mark.
Although unsuccessful with the bat, Afridi, who snatched two important wickets when Somerset were beginning to look threatening, looked vigilant especially with the caught-and-bowled of James Hildreth. Fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar bowled without any reward at Taunton, while Umar Gul, with a crucial early wicket, and Saeed Ajmal proved handy for the opponents with three wickets each.
The only real threat Pakistan bowlers faced was from one-down batsman Zander de Bruyn, who kept the opponents on their toes till the very last bowl, as he remained unbeaten on 122 while his side finished on 256 off the last ball of the match.
Had Bruyn received any support from the Somerset batting line-up, victory would not have been difficult for Somerset and given Pakistan a real wake-up call before the international series.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2010.
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