England bowlers toil in drawn game against Pakistan A

SHARJAH: Off-spinner Moeen Ali grabbed three wickets as England bowlers had to work hard against Pakistan A on a flat wicket under warm conditions in a drawn game in Sharjah on Tuesday.

Ali, who could prove a handy spinner in the three-Test series against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi on October 13, finished with 3-41 as Pakistan A managed 216 for five at the close on the second and final day.

England had declared at their first day´s score of 286-5.

The Pakistan A team is mostly comprised of players knocking at the door of international cricket.

Iftikhar Ahmed hit an unbeaten 92 while Fawad Alam made 55. Alam, recalled to the squad for the Tests, hit seven boundaries in a laborious 147-ball knock before falling to Ali, who also dismissed opener Khurram Manzoor (16) and Ali Asad (7).

Ahmed, declared best batsman in Pakistan’s National Twenty20 tournament last month, hit five fours and two sixes during his 209-ball stay at the crease.

Pacemen James Anderson and Mark Wood finished with a wicket apiece while Stuart Broad bowled 11 wicket-less overs.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid also failed to get a wicket in his 20 overs.

England have another two-day warm-up game, against the same opposition at the same venues on October 8 and 9, before the first Test.

The two other Tests are in Dubai (October 22-26) and Sharjah (November 1-5).

Both teams will also play four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 after the Tests.

Scores:

England 286-5 dec (J. Bairstow 66 not out, J. Root 59, A. Cook 53, Adil Rasheed 51 not out; Zafar Gohar 3-72)

Pakistan A 216-5 (Iftikhar Ahmed 92 not out, Fawad Alam 55; Moeen Ali 3-41)