Pakistan's warm-up game against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI at Beckenham was a thrilling encounter, with the hosts trailing by 261 runs at the end of the first day. The match, a three-day affair, saw Pakistan's openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais, survive the day unbeaten, scoring 26 and 15 respectively. The highlight of the day for Pakistan was the bowling performance of Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas, who claimed three wickets each, with Ali finishing with figures of 3 for 23 and Abbas with 3 for 37.
The match began with a loud appeal off the first ball, as Pakistan claimed that England opener Emilio Gay had nicked Abbas behind. However, Gay didn't last long, being dismissed in the third over. Abbas then took the wicket of James Rew, but the PCC's Haines raced to 50 from 30 balls, with 12 fours. Haines' innings came to an end when he was lbw to Ali. Falconer and Zaib then hit back with a partnership of 110, with both players surviving close calls.
The match took a turn when Falconer was dropped by Ubaid Shah at first slip, and Zaib might have been stumped when he was on 18. The PCC reached 123 for 3 at lunch, with Zaib reaching 50 with a single off Salman. Falconer soon followed, reaching 50 off the next delivery, but he was soon out trying to hook Khurram Shahzad, caught on the rope by a tumbling Awais Zafar.
Abbas continued his fine form, dismissing Falconer for 59, and the replacement keeper, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, missed a chance to get James Sales when he was on one. Luc Benkenstein was also dropped at first by Awais off Mohammad Ali, only to fall two balls later, miscuing Ali to Ghazi Gori. Ali then took the wicket of Noah Thain, caught by Sajid for a duck at midwicket, and it was 217 for 7 at tea.
The PCC then rallied, with Aamer Jamal getting Charlie Tear caught behind for 7, and Fisher and Sales countering with a stand of 55. Fisher blasted a six off Usman to pass 50, but Shoaib Bashir was the last man out, caught behind off Shahzad for a duck. Pakistan's only real alarm came when Imam-ul-Haq was dropped at first by Gay after he edged Nathan Gilchrist when he was on 14.
This match was a valuable warm-up for Pakistan ahead of the first Test against England, which starts at Headingley on August 19. The reduced schedule due to player availability provided an opportunity for all 14 squad members to play, and the bowling performance of Ali and Abbas bodes well for the upcoming series.
