Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets as Pakistan dismissed SLC Board XI for 196 in 46.3 overs on the first day of the sole two-day practise match on Tuesday 11 July 2023
Shaheen bowled out Kamindu Mendis (21, caught at the wicket), Ahan Wickramasinghe (two, caught at first slip), and Kavishka Anjula (two, bowled) for a total of 12-3-37-3. After missing England and New Zealand Tests due to knee injuries, this was Shaheen’s first competitive red-ball encounter in over a year.
Hasan Ali finished with statistics of 7.3-1-22-3, while all-rounder Aamir Jamal (two for 33) and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed (two for 52) shared the remaining four wickets.
Oshada Fernando, 31, who has played 21 Tests, hit 113 runs off 127 balls for the hosts. His inning had 18 fours. At the score of 168, he was the sixth batsman out, falling to Aamir.
Pakistan had reached 160 for three in 37 overs when the stumps were drawn for the day, with Babar Azam (14) and Saud Shakeel (0) at the crease.
Shan Masood, led the way with 83 runs (9x4s, 3x6s, 66b), while openers Imam Ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique scored 36 and 25 runs, respectively.
The first Test begins on Sunday, July 16th, in Galle.
Pak vs SLC Board XI Scores in brief:
SLC Board XI 196 (Oshada Fernando 113; Hasan Ali 3-22, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-37, Aamir Jamal 2-33, Abrar Ahmed 2-52).
Shan Masood 83, Imam Ul Haq 36, Abdullah Shafique 25, Babar Azam 14 n.o., Saud Shakeel 0 n.o.; Lakshitha Manasinghe 2-39)
