Tour match, Canterbury (day one of three, close):
Pakistan 360 v Kent 2-0
Match scorecard
 Umar has been in the runs at both Lord's and Canterbury this week |
Umar Akmal hit 153 but lacked support as Pakistan warmed up for their Tests against Australia and England on day one of their tour match against Kent. He was the only man to pass the 30 mark as Kent, led by ex-Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, kept up the pressure. Pakistan were 180-6 when captain Shahid Afridi fell for a duck, but in-form Umar smashed five sixes and 17 fours, adding 111 with Abdur Rehman (30). Pakistan were bowled out for 360 before the close, with Kent 2-0 in reply. Umar, the younger brother of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, had previously hit an unbeaten 51 from 30 balls in Pakistan's Twenty20 victory over a star-studded MCC side at Lord's on Sunday - and kept the Canterbury crowd entertained until he was stumped at 313-8. With Kent resting several senior players, stand-in skipper Mahmood used nine bowlers, but the pick of the attack was trialist leg-spinner Mark Lawson, released by Derbyshire at the end of last season, who took 4-93.  | 606: DEBATE |
Despite favourable conditions, Pakistan were soon reeling at 53-3 after winning the toss as their top three batsmen were all trapped lbw. But that brought Umar to the middle, although former skipper Shoaib Malik became the first of Lawson's four victims when he edged to backward point in the last over before lunch. Young all-rounder Alex Blake, playing only his eighth first-class game, took 2-9 in five overs, picking up the prize scalps of Kamran - superbly caught one-handed by Matt Coles at gully - and Afridi, who sliced the sixth ball he faced to Dewald Nel, running in from deep point. Umar remained at the crease, taking 150 balls to reach his century before cutting loose once he had reached three figures. But after hitting Lawson for three sixes, he skipped down the pitch once too often and was stumped by reserve keeper Paul Dixey, deputising for Geraint Jones, who collected two more stumpings as the lower order wilted. Paceman Umar Gul hit a rapid 30 not out as the tourists were eventually bowled out, leaving Joe Denly and Coles one over to survive before the close.
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