Pakistan A’s slow over-rate drew criticism from Australia coach Darren Lehmann on day two of their four-day match in Sharjah.
Alex Doolan top-scored with 104 in Australia’s 8-273 in reply to Pakistan A’s first innings of 8-305 from their allotted 90 overs.
Pakistan A had bowled 85 overs by the scheduled finish time of 5pm local time and went 20 minutes late to get through the 90 overs.
Speaking midway through the day, Lehmann was curious about the heavy use of pace bowlers by Pakistan A captain Asad Shafiq.
“I just hope they play the game in the right spirit and bowl 90 overs in a day,” Lehmann told reporters.
“Because they’ll have an irate coach if they don’t.
“They’ll have to bowl them (spinners) at some stage.”
Spinners Raza Hasan (1-59), Karamat Ali (1-48) and Shafiq himself (0-7) bowled 37 overs between them.
Pace had troubled Australia’s batsmen early on a pitch occasionally playing low. The visitors went to lunch at 3-62 and were 3-149 at tea.
The stylish Doolan reached his century with a glorious straight six off the bowling of left-arm spinner Hasan in the final session.
The right-hander’s hundred came off 191 deliveries and included 12 fours and three sixes, before retiring three balls later at 6-210.
Michael Clarke’s men had started the day in disastrous fashion.
Chris Rogers was out for a first-ball duck and Phil Hughes followed at 2-37.
Hughes, who could be set to resume his Test career on October 22 due to David Warner’s groin strain, made a streaky 14 before he was leg-before to pace bowler Rahat Ali.
Clarke was caught at point for 10 against the bowling of 21-year-old medium-pacer Ehsan Adil.
Steve Smith, who dominated last week’s one-day series against Pakistan, retired on 58 after a 106-run stand with Doolan for the fourth wicket.
Mitchell Marsh made a third-ball duck and Mitchell Johnson departed for seven, while Peter Siddle scored 16.
Brad Haddin finished 38 not out.
Lehmann said it was good to see Doolan and Smith spend some valuable hours at the crease.
“It’s disappointing our top order didn’t get any but that’s part of the game sometimes,” Lehmann said.
Australia’s two-Test series against Pakistan starts in Dubai on October 22. Lehmann says he’s confident Warner will be fit to play.
ALEX DOOLAN’S TEST NUMBERS
* Age: 28
* State team: Tasmania
* Bats: right-handed
* Test debut: Feb 2014 v South Africa at Centurion
* Matches: 3
* Record: 186 runs at 31.00.
