Pak vs Aus PM XI: Final day of practice match called off due to bad weather

Region was hit by a massive electrical storm around 8pm on Friday with 55km/h winds

Sports Desk

December 09, 2023

Region hit by massive storm with 55km/h winds.
Prime Minister’s XI final match finished as a draw.
Pakistan to face Australia in first Test from Dec 14.

CANBERRA: The final day’s play of the four-day game between Pakistan and Australian Prime Minister’s XI finished on Saturday as a draw after the match was called off due to bad weather at Manuka Oval.

The region was hit by a massive electrical storm around 8pm on Friday with 55km/h winds blowing off the covers over the pitch and exposing it to the rain.

Prime Minister’s XI ended the previous day trailing just runs 24 as Matt Renshaw’s unbeaten century (136 not out, 337b, 8x4s, 1x6) took the team to 367-4 in 141 overs.

Earlier in the game, Pakistan had declared their innings at 391-9, with Pakistan captain Shan Masood leading the batting display. For his undefeated double century (201 not out, 298b, 14x4s, 1x6), Shan was also adjudged player of the match.

Right-arm pacer Jordan Buckingham registered a five-wicket haul in the innings as well.

The Men in Green will now face Australia in a three-match Test series after the conclusion of the four-day game. The first Test will start on December 14 in Perth at 7:20am PST.

Whitewashed in each of their last five Test tours of Australia, optimism will be in short supply for Pakistan ahead of a three-match series starting in Perth next week, with Masood's task made even more difficult by a depleted bowling corps.

The last time Pakistan won a Test Down Under was in late 1995 when nearly half of the current side were not even born, and in Pat Cummins-led Australia, they face the reigning world Test champions.

Pakistan's unpredictability means they can never be ruled out but their chaotic buildup to the series makes the tourists tough to back in Australia.

Masood inherited the Test captaincy from Babar Azam, who stepped down as all-formats skipper last month in the wake of their failure to make the semi-finals of the 50-overs World Cup in India.