The Prime Minister’s XI scored 149 for 2 (Bancroft 53, Harris 49, Shahzad 1-23) against Pakistan’s 391 for 9 dec (Masood 201*, Sarfaraz 41*, Buckingham 5-80) on the second day of their tour game.
Bancroft and Harris missed the opportunity for a substantial score as they aimed for an Australia Test recall. They are competing with Matt Renshaw for the opening positions to replace David Warner when he retires from Test cricket in January.
Harris, who was dropped following Usman Khawaja’s return, stated that he felt he had proved himself enough in domestic cricket, despite challenges in international cricket. He expressed that “things happen” but felt that he has had “seven or eight years of good cricket.”
There are ongoing speculations about the batting order reshuffle and potential Test recalls for the players, with Harris acknowledging that making runs will always help their case.
With Pakistan resting some key players, Bancroft and Harris faced a less strong attack. The opening pair struggled with the slow pitch and sluggish outfield, with Harris attempting to force the pace and losing his wicket for 49.
Bancroft, on the other hand, scored a half-century and was dismissed lbw by Khurram Shahzad.
Masood led Pakistan’s batting charge, raising his third first-class double-century and expressing confidence in his team’s ability to adapt to different conditions and challenges.
Overall, the game provided an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and vie for potential Test positions. Jordan Buckingham also completed a five-wicket haul during the match.
