Tour match, Albion Qld: Pakistan 194-8 (40 overs) beat Queensland XI 179 all out (39.3 overs) by 15 runs

Pakistan warmed up for their three-match series against Australia with a 15-run win over a Queensland XI on Saturday.

The hosts were bowled out for 179 in the final over of the 40-over match at Allan Border Field after Pakistan made 194 for eight.

Veteran left-arm paceman Wasim Akram finished with four for 24 from seven overs while allrounder Shahid Afridi claimed two for 23 to go with his 52 in the Pakistan innings.

Shoaib Akhtar also took two wickets from six overs and the tourists had their fast bowler to thank for his part in a face-saving lower-order partnership with wicketkeeper Rashid Latif.

Shoaib slammed 25 off 19 balls, including three fours and a six, and Latif chimed in with 25 off 36 balls after the tourists slumped to 151 for eight.

Queensland off-spin all-rounder Nathan Hauritz, overlooked by Australia after touring South Africa with the one-day side, hit 61 off 77 balls and took one for 24 from eight overs.

Queensland will play Australia on Sunday in another 40-over match before both of the international sides move to Melbourne for the first two matches of their series on 12 and 15 June.

The teams return to Queensland for the final match of the series, at Brisbane's Gabba ground the following Wednesday.

Murali 'welcome'

Meanwhile, Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist hopes Muttiah Muralitharan will still tour with Sri Lanka at the end of the year.

Gilchrist was given a reprimand by the Australian Cricket Board after criticising the spinner's action.

And reports last week suggested Sri Lankan management do not want the bowler to tour for fear of disruptions ahead of the World Cup in February.

"That's a decision that he's got to make along his with support group," Gilchrist said.

"But I'm sure the Australian team, the Australian Cricket Board and the cricket fans here would love to see him out here again and he'd be most welcome."

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Pakistan innings (40 overs maximum)
Imran Nazir c Seccombe b Edmondson 8
Shahid Afridi c Betts b Hopes 52
Azhar Mahmood c Betts b Petrie 21
Saeed Anwar c Simpson b Rimmington 31
Yousuf Youhana c Petrie b Hauritz 3
Younis Khan lbw b Petrie 1
Shoaib Malik c Hopes b Rimmington 3
+Rashid Latif not out 25
Wasim Akram b Rimmington 2
Shoaib Akhtar not out 25
Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 13, nb 5) 23
Total (8 wickets, 40 overs, 161 mins) 194
DNB: *Waqar Younis.

FoW: 1-23 (Imran Nazir), 2-79 (Azhar Mahmood), 3-92 (Shahid Afridi), 4-106 (Yousuf Youhana), 5-109 (Younis Khan), 6-126 (Shoaib Malik), 7-134 (Saeed Anwar), 8-151 (Wasim Akram).

Bowling (O M R W): Edmondson 8 1 60 1, Mohammad Sami 7 0 30 0, Petrie 8 0 34 2, Hopes 4 0 25 1, Hauritz 8 1 24 1, Rimmington 5 0 16 3

Queensland Invitational XI innings
CP Simpson b Wasim Akram 9
DM Betts run out (Imran Nazir) 18
JR Hopes c Azhar Mahmood b Wasim Akram 1
*+WA Seccombe c Azhar Mahmood b Shoaib Akhtar 12
M Sippel c Azhar Mahmood b Waqar Younis 23
DM Payne b Shoaib Akhtar 0
NM Hauritz st Rashid Latif b Shahid Afridi 61
MG Johnson c Imran Nazir b Shahid Afridi 33
Mohammad Sami b Wasim Akram 0
MJ Petrie not out 2
BM Edmondson b Wasim Akram 0
Extras (b 6, lb 7, w 3, nb 4) 20
Total (all out, 39.3 overs, 171 mins) 179

DNB: NJ Rimmington.

FoW: 1-19 (Simpson), 2-24 (Hopes), 3-45 (Betts), 4-47 (Seccombe), 5-47 (Payne), 6-84 (Sippel), 7-172 (Johnson), 8-177 (Hauritz), 9-179 (Mohammad Sami), 10-179 (Edmondson).

Bowling (O M R W): Wasim Akram 7.3 1 24 4, Waqar Younis 7 0 33 1, Shoaib Akhtar 6 2 27 2, Azhar Mahmood 8 1 31 0, Shoaib Malik 5 0 32 0, Shahid Afridi 6 0 19 2