Final day wash out deprives Pakistan of match practise

Pakistan's final warm-up game prior to Thursday's First Test at Lord's was abandoned without a ball being bowled on the third and final day in Canterbury.

Match umpires David Shepherd and Roy Palmer had no option but to the declare the Vodafone Challenge game with Kent a draw, much to the disappointment of a small crowd and the Pakistan top order batsmen.

The game had been intriguingly poised with Kent just 100 runs ahead with seven second innings wickets intact.

Although touring openers Saeed Anwar and Saleem Elahi hit form by posting a record first wicket stand of 307 here yesterday, the players at three, four and five in the Pakistan order are still crying out for batting practice - yet the next time they take guard in anger will be against England in three days' time.

In the three warm-up games on tour to date Abdur Razzaq, Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana have scored just 64 runs between them, hardly ideal preparation for Test cricket or batting on a likely seamer-friendly pitch in St John's Wood.