Razzaq shines on a gloomy day

Board President's XI 91 for 1 (Kaif 42*, Jadhav 30*) trail Pakistanis 273 (Razzaq 63) by 182 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Mohammad Kaif livened up a truncated day's play with a strokeful 42 as the Board President's XI eased to 91 for 1 before bad light forced the players off the field midway through the second session. Earlier, Pakistan had stretched their innings to 273 with Abdul Razzaq smashing an attractive 63.

Kaif walked in at the fall of Satyajit Parab, who played across a straight, fast and low delivery from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (17 for 1). With the bland wicket offering nothing to the bowlers, Kaif got easily into the saddle, playing in uninhibited fashion. The cover-drive, flick and the pull were in handsome evidence and he was especially severe on the medium pace of Razzaq, who was driven four times towards the ropes.

The introduction of Danish Kaneria calmed the Pakistan nerves a bit, and he put some brakes on the run-rate. After Kaneria's introduction, only 17 came from 5.2 overs bowled, with Dheeraj Jadhav content to offer steady support for Kaif.

Earlier, after a couple of gloomy mornings, the day started off on a bright note with the sun coming out. However, Pakistan continued in the same casual vein as on the first day, failing to build any substantial partnership.

After Shiv Shankar Paul trapped Asim Kamal in the second over of the morning, only the seventh-wicket pair of Razzaq and Kamran Akmal gave a glimpse of the application that will be needed during the Test series. However, Akmal, after playing some aggressive drives, was picked up low by Kaif at slip off the very first delivery bowled by Venugopal Rao, a part-time offspinner.

Rao had replaced another part-timer, Neeraj Patel, who bowled left-arm. The two were pressed into service after an injury to Ramesh Powar, who was ruled out after suffering an injury to his bowling hand on Thursday.

A few slogs later, Razzaq holed out to deep square leg off Patel, bringing to an end an exciting innings which saw him hit two sixes, both off Rao - one to the deep midwicket and the other over long-on.

Pakistan have so far failed to impress, and have continued in the same vein where they left off after the Tests in Australia. Their batsmen didn't do justice to their potential and talent, while their fast bowlers couldn't get a consistent length or line. So far, Kaif has stuck to his words about giving the opposition a real test. Weather permitting, he could inflict even more damage before the real deal starts next Tuesday.