South Africans boss warm up game

A century from Mark Boucher and three wickets put South Africa well in control of their tour match against the PCB Patron’s XI. The tourists moved their overnight score of 294-5 to 467, with the charge led by wicketkeeper-batsman Boucher, before reducing the Patron’s XI to 136-3 at stumps.

Boucher’s innings was well supported by AB de Villiers, who converted his overnight 48 into a half century, eventually reaching 81. de Villiers and Boucher put on 119 for the sixth wicket before leg spinner Rizwan Ahmed had de Villiers caught at slip on his way to career best figures of 7-144.

Rizwan’s next victim was Morne Morkel for 7, but Andre Nel hung around long enough to put on 58 with Boucher. By the time Mansoor Amjad claimed his solitary wicket to end the innings, Boucher was unbeaten on 109 and had seen his side past 450.

In response, Taufeeq Umar and Babar Naeem went built starts, but Naeem was removed by Ntini for 22, caught by Boucher behind the stumps. Shahid Yousuf joing Umar, and the pair put together a partnership of 80. However, Kallis bowled Umar for 50 and soon after Yousuf fell to left arm spinner Paul Harris, having made 42.

South Africa will go into the final day of this warm up game in command and looking good. It could have looked better but fot Kallis dropping Adnan Raza in the last over. However, at this point of the tour it’s the performance that counts rather then the result, and the tourists are getting that right.

South Africa 467
Mark Boucher 109*, Hasim Amla 87
Rizwan Ahmed 7-144, Mansoor Amjad 1-62

Pakistan Cricket Board Patron’s XI 136-3
Taufeeq Umar 50, Shahid Yousuf 42
Jacques Kallis 1-13, Makhaya Ntini 1-16