Pakistan batters in the groove ahead of first Test by AFP

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Scorecard:	Leicestershire v Pakistanis
Player:	Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul
Event:	Pakistan in British Isles 2006

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DateLine: 3rd July 2006

 

Pakistan openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt shared a stand of 145 as the tourists' gave a hint of their batting power just over a week before the first Test against England.

 

Farhat made 81, before retiring while Butt, still uncertain of his Test spot, scored 68 as Pakistan totalled 304 for five declared on the second day of their three-day tour match against Leicestershire at Grace Road here Saturday.

 

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal weighed in with an unbeaten 62 off 81 balls, with four sixes and five fours before Younis Khan, deputising for resting captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, called a halt 11 runs behind Leicestershire's first innings 315 for nine declared.

 

Pace duo Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul then took a wicket apiece as Leicestershire ended the day on 45 for two, a lead of 56.

 

Earlier 21-year-old seamer Nick Walker, on his Leicestershire debut after being released by Derbyshire, took three for 47 to check Pakistan's progress after Farhat and Butt scored 127 runs in the morning session's 32 overs.

 

Farhat looked in good touch, his fifty up in 71 balls with 46 runs in boundaries including a six off left-arm spinner Claude Henderson.

 

However, in the first over after lunch, Butt was bowled off an inside edge by Walker before Farhat, somewhat unexpectedly, retired in sight of a hundred.

 

Pakistan have one more tour match, a four-day contest against England A at Canterbury starting on Thursday, before a four Test series gets underway at Lord's on July 13.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)