Finn four-for presses Test case

Steven Finn gave his chances of playing in the first Test a significant boost as he took four early wickets before England's bowlers capped off an encouraging day by reducing Pakistan A to 192 for 12. With the teams having agreed to spend a day each in the field, several of the Pakistan A side batted twice as a much-changed England attack got a good workout.

Finn appeared to be behind Mark Wood in the running to support James Anderson and Stuart Broad - he said so himself afterwards - but impressed during two penetrative spells that yielded figures of 11-7-5-4. Wood had been given the first opportunity in the two-day game earlier in the week but was rested this time, along with Anderson and Broad.

Although Finn and Wood played two Tests together at the end of the Ashes, one will have to make way due to Anderson's return from injury. Given the sapping conditions, having both in form will not be to England's disadvantage.

This was a more responsive surface than the one on which Pakistan A made 216 for 5 on Tuesday and Finn's pace helped reduce them to 73 for 6 before a 93-run stand between Umar Amin and Adnan Akmal brought some respectability to what was soon to become a rather confusing scorecard.

England selected Alex Hales and James Taylor in their XI, in place of Alastair Cook and Joe Root, while the inclusion of Samit Patel and Liam Plunkett meant everyone in the squad got a workout. Cook and Root were still involved in the field, sharing the captaincy along with Ian Bell for a session each, while Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler took turns behind the stumps.

Finn had Khurram Manzoor caught behind in his fifth over - although the opener appeared to dispute the decision - and then Ali Asad slashed a drive to second slip. He returned after lunch to have Iftikhar Ahmed lbw and Usman Salahuddin taken at third slip two balls later, providing a reminder of his ODI performances in the UAE three years ago when he was the leading wicket-taker on either side.

Focus has been on England's spin resources and Moeen Ali had Fawad Alam taken at slip after extracting some turn before Adil Rashid picked up his first wicket on tour by inducing an edge from opener Sami Aslam on 43.

Akmal and Amin rebuilt the innings during the afternoon, taking their seventh-wicket stand beyond tea. Shortly after Akmal had reached his fifty, Patel had Amin caught behind and Manzoor was then dismissed for the second time in the day trying to hit Patel over long-off.

Asad walked out again only to be dismissed for another duck, his stumps rattled by Plunkett, and Rashid picked up the 10th wicket of the innings after a brief stand between Akmal and Zafar Gohar. With 12 overs left, Pakistan A continued to bat and there were further wickets for Rashid - Salahuddin the third batsman to fall twice - and Plunkett before the teams walked off with Akmal unbeaten on 74 and the scorers comparing notes.

England will conclude their preparations for the first Test, which starts in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, by giving chances to Hales and Taylor with the bat. Hales will open alongside Moeen, with both looking to make their case to become Cook's latest partner at the top of the order.