Pakistan extend lead to 187 despite Kent’s dogged batting

Kent v The Pakistanis, Canterbury day two of three.
By Mark Pennell
Battling half-centuries from Joe Denly and first-class debutant James Goodman helped Kent reach a respectable 259 all out, but an inexperienced county side trail by 187 runs going into the final day of this three-day friendly in Canterbury
Responding to the tourists“ total of 360, Kent lot four wickets in each of the opening two sessions as the touring attack showed their class through left-arm seamer Mohammad Aamer, who bagged five for 54 along the way.
The hosts were finally dismissed by 4.30pm with off-spinner Shoaib Malik taking the wickets of Mark Lawson (31) and last man Dewald Nel as the tourists secured a first-innings lead of 101.
Pakistan lost Salman Butt (9), leg before to an Azhar Mahmood off-cutter in the 20 overs through to stumps, but at 86 for one already hold a healthy lead going into Wednesday“s final day.
Heavy rain at the start of the day led to a 30-minute delay for the mopping up work and also increased humidity levels that Pakistan spearheads Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer exploited to the full as the visitors enjoyed a distinct edge in the first session.
After a reasonably promising start that saw both Joe Denly and night watchman Matt Coles hit confidence-boosting boundaries, Kent lost four wickets for two runs in the space of 14 balls.
The collapse started when Coles (12) pushed inside the line of an in-swinger from left-arm quick bowler Mohammad Aamer to lose his off stump and make it 31 for one.
Two balls later Chris Piesley, on his first-class debut, went without scoring after he pushed at an Aamer off-cutter to edge to slip where Salman Butt took a sharp, low catch to his left.
In the next over Alex Blake, playing late and only half forward to an in-ducker from Umar Gul, squeezed one through the gate of bat and pad to lose his off stump and go for a fourth ball duck.
Then James Hockley lasted only five deliveries before he shouldered arms to a full-length Aamer in-swinger that moved back in to the right-hander to hit the base of off stump.
Just before the interval Denly reached his half-century in fortunate manner. Driving hard at one from Wahab Riaz he edged just over the head of Salman Butt at first slip, who appeared to lose it in the background, for a four to third man that posted a 60-ball 50 with eight boundaries.
Denly went for 63 soon after the resumption after being cleaned up by a fast straight one from Aamer.
Acting captain Azhar Mahmood contributed 28 from 33 balls before he miscued a pull shot against Umar Gul into the hands of Wahab Riaz at deep square to make it 160 for six.
Goodman edged nervously toward a deserved maiden 50 from 111 balls with five fours, but his stay ended soon after when he missed an expansive drive against Riaz to go for 63 with six fours.
Just before tea, Aamer returned for a third stint from the Nackington Road End and drew Paul Dixey into an injudicious push away from the body which resulted in a catch at second slip by Umar Akmal.