Pakistan v Rest of SA XI match Drawn
'Pakistan Times' Sports Desk

KIMBERLEY: Pakistan fast bowler Shahid Nazir boosted his chances of playing in the first test by completing a five-wicket haul in a drawn tour match against a Rest of South Africa XI in Kimberley on Monday.

Nazir took five for 61 in the home side's first innings of 383, which they scored in reply to Pakistan's total of 485 for nine declared.

Pakistan were 96 for two in their second innings when the three-day match was abandoned as a draw with three overs remaining.

Nazir's chances of playing in the first test against South Africa, which starts in Centurion on Thursday, would seem to be further increased after Umar Gul sustained an ankle injury that let him bowl just three overs.

Morne van Wyk and Arno Jacobs took their fifth-wicket stand to 188 before they were dismissed seven overs apart before lunch.

Van Wyk batted for more than four hours for his 102, while Jacobs hit 23 fours and a six in his 143.

Left-arm fast bowler Yusuf Abdullah struck twice in Pakistan's second innings when he had Imran Farhat caught behind by Van Wyk for 34 before trapping Yasir Hameed in front for a second-ball duck.

Mohammad Hafeez, who scored 108 in the first innings, was 48 not out when play was called off.

Abdullah took two for 21.●