Good day for England

Dubai - Cook, Root, Bairstow and Rashid notch half centuries against Pakistan 'A'

The English cricket team's batsmen had a good workout against a Pakistan 'A' attack in their first warmup game of their two-month UAE tour at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.
In the first of two two-day fixture against a Pakistan side comprising a bunch of promising youngsters and a couple of current and past Test players - the Englishmen were more than content on trying to acclimatise to the heat and the reality of playing on the slow pitches here.
England, due to play Pakistan in the first of the three-Test series beginning in Abu Dhabi next week, did reasonably well to post 286-5 from 90 overs sent down by Pakistani A's efficient attack that was backed by fine ground fielding.
Jonny Bairstow with 66 including four fours and a six, and Adil Rashid on 51 with the help of three 4s and a six, were the unbeaten batsmen at close of play.
Skipper Alastair Cook led the way at the top with a watchful 53, made off 130 balls while Joe Root (59 retd) scored his runs from 97 balls. Bairstow came up with a solid looking knock from 112 balls, reaching his half century in 90 balls.
Yorkshire allrounder Rashid, mainly a leg spinner, and who is likely to get his first Test call-up next week, batted with the quality he is known for, faced 81 balls.
For Pakistan A left arm orthodox Zafar Gohar bowled superbly for his 3-72 from 22 overs while Zial-ul-Haq and Iftikhar Ahmed claimed a wicket each.
Leggie Mohammed Asghar went wicketless though he had the English middle-order batsmen in all sorts of difficulty.
England who will be trying out as to who will partner skipper Cook as his opening partner saw a brisk start to their tour's first outing as southpaw Moeen Ali who has a Test century and two ODI tons to his credit, handled the enthusiastic if not fiery Pakistan A pace attack well in the first session.
Ali and Cook coped well with the adjustments required for cricket in this part of the world, with a straight and steady approach before Ali perished at 44-1 to left arm fast medium Zia-ul-Haq when Ehsan Adil pocketed the top edge at fine leg.
Ian Bell (19 from 58 balls) hit a sweetly timed cover drive and a couple of fine shots for twos to long-on off Zia-ul-Haq immediately after lunch and when it looked it was going to be his day, a faster delivery through the air from slow left arm Gohar from the Sharjah SC stadium caught the Englishman in front (England 91 from 35.4 overs).
Comeback man Fawad Alam snapped up Cook at leg slip off one that turned and lifted viciously from just short of a good length from Gohar. England were then 113-3 from 43.4 overs as Gohar worked out a long straight spell of 14 overs, conceding just 35 runs before Cook's 130-ball half century stay with four 4s came to an end.
In the first session after tea, the in-form Root reached his half ton from 84 balls that contained five 4s. Bairstow kept the scoreboard ticking at pedestrian's pace initially and soon Root retired hurt after reaching 59 from 97 balls.
Left handed Ben Stokes (6 from 16 balls) came in at number six and continued with the slow grind England were engaged in till he departed caught behind on the leg side off a good length straight one from the fourth ball of off spinner Iftikhar Ahmed's first over.
English keeper Jos Buttler (1) was back in the pavilion within minutes, leg before to Gohar who meanwhile started operations from the main pavilion end. The day's final session began with England on 205-5.
Junaid Khan came up with some extra pace from the Sharjah football stadium end but the Englishmen were more engrossed with the task of getting acquainted with the conditions here.
moni@khaleejtimes.com