Saeed Ajmal finds form in drawn tour game

Pakistanis 437 (Butt 153, Kamran Akmal 109) and 4 for 141 (Umar Akmal 55) drew with Tasmania 193 (Bailey 50, Ajmal 4-84)
Scorecard

The offspinner Saeed Ajmal picked up four wickets and the Pakistanis' top order had another hit out before the three-tour game ended in a draw. On Saturday the tourists face Australia in the Boxing Day Test and they will head to Melbourne with some confidence after a strong hit-out against Tasmania in Hobart.

Tasmania were finished off for 193 before lunch on the third day, with Ajmal taking 4 for 84 in his 24 overs. Ajmal is competing with Danish Kaneria, who did not play, as the No. 1 spinner in the squad and will be content with his performance, which included the wickets of Jason Krejza (23) and Brendan Drew (14).

Abdur Rauf, Mohammad Aamer and Imran Farhat all earned two wickets each, with Farhat's collection coming when he dismissed the tailenders Brett Geeves (33) and Tim Macdonald (5). The visitors earned a lead of 244 and moved to 4 for 141 before calling the game off early.

Farhat retired on 40 and Faisal Iqbal, who was promoted to open, got 32 and Umar Akmal was 55 off 50 balls when he was run out. Misbah-ul-Haq (1) and Fawad Alam (2) both failed, but they got starts in the first innings.

Ajmal believed his doosra would be extremely handy as Pakistan look to clinch their first Test series in Australia. ''In these times, Test scoring is very fast,'' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''Ten years ago, Tests were slow and easy all-day batting for about 210 runs. But these days it's over 300 runs in a day. So if you have any variety [as a bowler] you can survive. If do not have variety you cannot survive in international cricket.

''Depends on the wicket, but the doosra is very difficult. If they [the pitches] are turning, it should be difficult for Australia against me.''

Among Australian spinners, Ajmal said Shane Warne had lots of variety, but the current crop were yet to impress. ''But these days the Australian spinners are just offspinners and it's not like they are taking five or six wickets every match, maybe two,'' Ajmal said.