Date-stamped : 30 Jan94 - 18:30 PAKISTAN vs SIR RON BRIERLEY FESTIVAL XI, Hamilton, 30 Jan 94 Pakistan have started their NZ tour with a 4 run win over an In- vitation XI. Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 105 in 120 balls including 10 fours and a six. Of the Invitation XI, Pocock, Bradburn, Nash, Parore, Doull and Lance Cairns (a long time ago!!) have played Test Cricket. But none are expected to be selected in Test Series team. In yesterday's opening tour match among the many transgressions was a dropped catch by Aamir Nazir described by commentators as the simplest imaginable. Contributed by Howard.Silby (howard@t*vuw.ac.nz) Match Report: Pakistan Tour Match vs Ron Brierley XI Pakistan's tour of New Zealand started quietly on a beautiful Hamilton day in front of a festive 6000 strong crowd that just about filled the attractive Trust Bank Park. Equipped with field glasses and comfortably positioned in the shade next to the sight screen, your reporter enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and had a good first look at the tourists. The Brierley XI started well, with former test player Lance Cairns (father of Chris) bowling accurately and still swinging the ball as much as anyone in world cricket. Soon he continued Saeed Anwar's miserable record in New Zealand for four, and had the other opener Shakeer to finish with 2-16 from seven overs. With Nash and NZ's most miserly one day bowler Nathan Astle also bowling well, Pakistan were soon in serious trouble at 53-4. But then a return from the outfield hit Inzamam squarely on the back of the lower neck, and he was unable to continue for some time. It may have been coincidence, but from this point on Inzamam was in glorious form. Although he has been weak in the past to the moving ball, today he showed that when the deck is flat and the bowling is moderate he can be unstoppable. His 105 included 11 fours and a six, with his hundred coming up in 115 balls. At the other end Shoiab was unexciting but provided valuable support with 51 in 77 minutes as the pair added 88 for the sixth wicket. Pakistan's 50 overs yielded 211-6. With Akram and Waqar not playing, the Brierley XI was faced with an opening attack of young up and comers who (on this occasion anyway) were really only a brisk medium pace. None of the first 5 batsmen reached 30 however, and the Kiwis were in trouble at 104 for 6. The pace bowlers and Mushtaq Ahmed were unsuccessful, the damage being done by Salim Malik (3-29 from 10) and Mujtaba (2-28 from 10). Northern Districts (the local provincial side) captain Bradburn (a tourist to Pakistan in 1990) however chose the international match to play his best innings of the one day season. After a steady start he began to regularly find the boundary, and the lo- cals were in with a chance. At the other end former (& I think future) international wicketkeeper Adam Parore was providing a useful supporting knock with 30 runs in a 94 run partnership. With more than 8 an over needed from the last 7 overs Bradburn played sensibly, hitting a boundary early in virtually every over and hitting ones and twos off pretty well every other ball. His partner however, usually a technically good and talented batsman, played foolishly, often swinging and missing when he should have been getting bat on ball so to give Bradburn the strike. When Parore was dismissed, his team needed 14 runs from the final 8 balls. To the excitement of the crowd the incoming batsman was none other than Lance Cairns, the most famous six hitter in the history of New Zealand cricket. If the end of the game had been scripted, the writer couldnt have come up with a better scenario. As Cairns faced the second to last ball, seven were needed. It was unrealistic to expect the 44 year old legend, who hadn't had the chance to get his eye in, to hit the six that the crowd had waited all match for. He had a big swing which completely missed, and Bradburn had no choice but to race through for a cheeky bye. Bradburn was also unable to hit the winning six, and Pakistan won by 4 runs. Full marks to Nazir, who bowled an excellent final over to concede just 4 runs when 9 were needed. Full marks must go to Northern Districts administrators, who put on a wonderful festive occasion for the fans, with entertainment between innings, marquees around the ground, and a chance to see local folk hero Lance Cairns showing that the ability's still there. The players entered the spirit with some good skills, and both captains were generous when their opponents' innings got into trouble, although the players always approached the match competitively. For the tourists it was a good chance to ease their way into the tour. They will be pleased with the win, and happy that Inzamam and Shoaib still seem to be effective against Kiwi bowlers. Their tour continues today with a three dayer at the same venue against a New Zealand selection which features test candidates Hartland, Greatbatch and Pocock (batting); Hart and Patel (spin); and Owens and de Groen (pace). As I write this, the New Zealanders have made a good start and are 191-1, with the two potential test openers (Hartland 49 and Pocock 79* so far) doing well. Contributed by Jason (jmas@waikato.ac.nz)