Cricket: Alam shows class for Pakistan

A rising Pakistani batting star made his mark before next week's test series against New Zealand in the tour opener at Queenstown yesterday, but rival opener Craig Cumming's hopes of a recall dimmed with a second failure for an Invitation XI.

Fawad Alam showed the right temperament and application to suggest he is already in good nick for the first test starting at Dunedin's University Oval on Tuesday.

Alam, who made 168 on debut against Sri Lanka in July, topscored with 77 on the second day of the three-day game as Pakistan overhauled the home side's 234 by compiling 286 on a pitch that continues to encourage the quicks with bounce and carry.

The Invitation side were 24 for one in their second innings at the close, with test incumbents Tim McIntosh and Daniel Flynn eager for a long look at the tourists' admittedly second-string attack when play resumes at Queenstown Events Centre tomorrow.

Cumming was the casualty as the Invitation XI sought to rub out a 52-run deficit, and his prospects of reinstatement to the test team probably rested in the gloves of reserve wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed after right-armer Abdur Rauf claimed his wicket.

The Otago captain added a quickfire 16 to his first innings score of two, hardly compelling evidence to a place in a batting line-up weakened by the absence of the injured Jesse Ryder.

The search for Ryder's replacement could be confirmed tomorrow.

Playing a new opener and dropping Martin Guptill and the other specialists down a place is one consideration although a sizeable score by Grant Elliott could see him slot in. Peter Fulton and Mathew Sinclair are scoring heavily on the domestic front.

While Cumming fluffed his audition, Tim Southee, Daryl Tuffey and Iain O'Brien were locked in a three-way battle to join a pace attack with Chris Martin and Shane Bond, providing the latter is passed fit after the Canterbury's match ends against Otago tomorrow. The hopeful trio all had their moments against a batting line-up missing a rested Shoiab Malik and absentee captain Younis Khan.

Southee secured the early breakthrough last night and added Mohammad Yousuf yesterday before taking some tap; Tuffey was economical before cleaning up the tail while O'Brien was ragged early before tightening up considerably.

Each took two wickets as did promising legspinner Tarun Nethula.

He accepted two return catches although he was expensive, taking two for 61 from eight overs against a side adept at playing spin.

Pakistan, meanwhile, were intent on indulging in batting practice, a process that returned mixed results.

Alam, who struck 10 boundaries in a 145-ball stay, and Imran Farhat, with 52, posted 97 for the second wicket after Pakistan resumed on 14 for one.

But it took an enterprising 37 from Ahmed and then the tail to wag for Pakistan to build a slight advantage. Pakistan were eight down and still 10 runs behind until Ahmed, Rauf, with 26, and Danish Kaneria, 18 not out, took advantage of a tiring attack.

- NZPA