Pakistanis sneak home despite Haddin hundred

Pakistanis 8 for 279 (Razzaq 89*, Hafeez 61, Tait 2-49) beat Australia A 266 (Haddin 129, D Hussey 45, Naved-ul-Hasan 3-42) by 13 runs
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Brad Haddin made a superb 129, but the Pakistanis sneaked through in their warm-up match © Getty Images Enlarge

Brad Haddin's sparkling century could not prevent a fighting comeback from the Pakistanis in the VB Series warm-up match at the Adelaide Oval. Twice the tourists' cause seemed lost, but they regrouped through Abdul Razzaq's blistering 89 off 61 balls, and then sealed the match with three wickets for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Australia A were strolling towards victory at 4 for 254 in the 45th over after Haddin, the captain, had reached his hundred in as many balls with help from Brad Hodge (30) and David Hussey (45). Naved then swung the match for the final time as Australia A collapsed with two run-outs and lost six wickets in four overs.

Cameron White fell when Shahid Afridi dropped a caught-and-bowled chance off Haddin, and the ball cannoned into the stumps with White out of his ground. Then Haddin was caught short of the crease 12 runs later to end Australia A's chances. Naved, who had removed Damien Wright and Nathan Hauritz, finished the game by having Shaun Tait caught behind, although Tait was unhappy with the decision.

Pakistan's day began badly when they slumped to 5 for 117, but Razzaq, who has struggled with a mystery illness during the tour, arrived in the 30th over and showed he was in a healthy state by blasting six sixes and four fours to lead the recovery.

Razzaq and Shahid Afridi added 68 from 33 balls as Hauritz was hit the hardest, conceding three sixes in six balls, and Pakistan set Australia A 280 for victory. Mohammad Hafeez had stabilised the innings with 61 before he was caught in the deep off Hauritz, and the thrilling late onslaught included 26 runs from the final 13 balls.

Wright, Tait and Mick Lewis collected the first five wickets, including the dismissal of Inzamam-ul-Haq. Playing his first game since the first Test because of a back injury, Inzamam scratched out 10 from 40 balls before falling to Tait.