Najaf Shah shines with five wickets

Pakistan Juniors warmed for next month's World Cup in New Zealand with a four-wicket victory Saturday over PCB XI, pacer Najaf Shah snapping up five wickets.

Najaf, a left arm bowler, restricted the PCB XI to 174 after they had been put in to bat first at the Rawalpindi Stadium.

Only Bilal Asad, with a well-struck 52 that had five fours and a six and Asim Kamal who scored 38, added respectablity to PCB XI's innings, which lasted 43.5 overs.

Umar Gul and Junaid Zia also captured wickets, taking two apiece to put their rivals in trouble.

The juniors replied strongly with captain Salman Butt cracking a fine 41 that included five boundaries and Kamran Sajid striking 45, an innings laced with four hits to the ropes.

The good work done by the bowlers was well-aided by the batsmen who romped home in 38.4 overs for the loss of six wickets. Jaffar Nazir took two wickets but his efforts were of little use against a side that was well-drilled.