Zaman Akhter makes quick impression in England Lions' tour match

Zaman Akhter's pace and bounce was the feature as the Gloucestershire quick claimed three wickets on the opening day of the England Lions' four-day match against a Cricket South Africa Invitational XI in Cape Town.

After Tom Lawes struck twice with the new ball - including the first delivery of the day - Akhtar made the most significant inroads as the hosts reached stumps at 285 for eight.

Akhtar broke a century stand for the third wicket when he found extra bounce off a good length and Jean du Plessis edged to James Coles at second slip. Nottinghamshire's teenage spinner Farhan Ahmed then claimed Lesego Senokwane, the leading run-scorer in the ongoing CSA 4-Day Series, when he miscued a swipe to Akhtar at mid-on after adding 79.

Skipper Dan Mousley and Coles both took a wicket each in the afternoon, but the Lions were made to toil before the reintroduction of Akhter in the final hour.

The 25-year-old produced a brutish short ball that Sinethemba Qeshile could only feather behind as he took evasive action after an eye-catching 73. From the next ball Matthew Boast popped a simple catch to backward point.

The four-day game is the Lions' only match of a three-week tour that has focused on providing the 19-player squad with individualised and high-quality training.