Pakistan put up a commendable batting performance to reach 345/5 in their first warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Friday.
Deciding to bat, Pakistan lost their openers early but Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put in a good show to lay the foundation for a big total. Young lefthander Saud Shakeel then complemented their efforts with a solid 75 off 53 balls.
Their middle-order fired on all cylinders after a slow start. Babar took his time to settle down but made up for it by shifting gears while compiling 80 off 84 balls.
Rizwan rebuilt the innings with Babar before taking New Zealand to the cleaners. He reached his hundred at less than run-a-ball. Rizwan’s 103 came off 94 balls and included nine boundaries and two sixes.
Babar and Rizwan added 114 runs for the third wicket and proved once again how much Pakistan’s batting depended on them. Once Babar departed, Shakeel took over.
Shakeel made a serious case for his inclusion in the playing XI with a quickfire 75 off 53. He showed that he was not averse to taking on the bowlers and had the temperament to survive on the big stage.
Agha Salman chipped in with a valuable 33 off 23 and Shadab Khan too provided a late impetus with two consecutive sixes in the penultimate over.
