RESULT
1st unofficial Test, Townsville, June 26 - 29, 2009, Pakistan A tour of Australia
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399 & 256/5d
(T:318) 338 & 207/5

Match drawn

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Umar shines with century in draw

Umar Akmal scored his fourth first-class century as the match between Pakistan A and Australia A petered out to a draw

Cricinfo staff
29-Jun-2009
Australia A 399 and 5 for 256 (White 77, Paine 54*) drew with Pakistan A 338 and 5 for 207 (Umar Akmal 100*, Sarfraz Ahmed 50*)
Scorecard
Umar Akmal scored his fourth first-class century as the match between Pakistan A and Australia A petered out to a draw in Townsville. Chasing an unlikely 318 for victory, Pakistan finished on 5 for 207 with Umar unbeaten on 100 and Sarfraz Ahmed on 50.
Umar, the younger brother of the Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 110-ball innings but despite his speed the target was too great. Clint McKay added two second-innings wickets to his six from the first innings, while the spinners Jason Krejza and Jon Holland were both expensive.
Australia's second innings was anchored by the captain Cameron White, who made 77. He was assisted by the wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who finished on 54 not out when the Australians declared at 5 for 256. Australia A coach Mark Sorell said he was pleased with the performance of his team, and the way they had come out on top during some crucial phases in the match.
"We played some really good cricket over the four days, another couple of wickets with the new ball to put some pressure on would have been handy," Sorell said. "We certainly won some key moments in the game and we pretty much drove the game, it was pretty much our game to drive and pretty happy with that and went well. It would have been a good reward for us to get the win at the end of the day but unfortunately it didn't happen."
Sorell credited the Pakistan batsmen, particularly Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed, who put on an unbeaten 98-run partnership and helped secure the draw. "A couple of quick wickets after tea would have been really handy and probably would have put us well in control of the game, but to the credit of the Pakistani guys, they played really well and didn't give their wicket up," Sorell said. "Those two guys at the end there played very well and proved a tough partnership for us to crack."
The teams remain in Townsville for a second four-day match, which begins on Friday. They then head to Brisbane for three one-day matches and a Twenty20 game.