Shehzad 96 boosts Pakistan 'A'

Middle order batsman Ahmed Shehzad hit a top score of 96 to help the touring Pakistan A team reach an impressive 294 for 4 in their first innings on the opening day of their second four day unofficial Test match against Sri Lanka A which commenced at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Shehzad hoisted three sixes and struck 13 boundaries and also added 98 runs for the second wicket together with opener Khurram Manzoor (35) after they had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Skipper Faisal Iqbal then consolidated their position with an unbeaten knock of 76 from 111 deliveries inclusive of nine boundaries. He has so far added 111 runs for the unfinished fifth wicket along with Fahad Iqbal.

PAKISTAN A 1st innings 

Khurram Manzoor c Warnapura b Weerakoon 	35  
Umar Amin  c Mubarak b Darshanpriya 		11  
Ahmed Shehzad  c Thirimanne b Pushpakumara 	96  
Azhar Ali  run out (Mubarak) 			20  
Faisal Iqbal  not out 				76  
Fahad Iqbal  not out 				37  
EXTRAS (b 1,lb 8,w 6,nb 4)			 19 
TOTAL (4 wickets; 90 overs)			294  
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-20, 2-118, 3-161, 4-183  
BOWLING: C. Welegedara 15-4-44-0, D. Darshanpriya 12-3-41-1, M. Pushpakumara 18-0-69-1, 
C. Vidanapathirana 12-4-36-0, J. Mubarak 1-0-12-0, S. Weerakoon 25-9-62-1, 
G. Rupasinghe 5-1-13-0, M. Warnapura 2-0-8-0