Date-stamped : 22 Jul97 - 10:46 Pakistan are learning their lessons fast By Peter Roebuck at Taunton Somerset (213) lead Pakistan A (136-3) by 77 runs SPIRITED cricket from Pakistan`s A team put them in charge on an entertaining opening day played on a benign pitch at Taunton. Nine of the tourists had not previously played first-class cricket, their manager has yet to arrive and Hassan Raza, their leading bats- man, has been called to Colombo for the Asia Cup. Notwithstanding which these green tourists played with variety and sparkle, Salim Elahi following up his double hundred against Worcestershire with a fluent innings of 70. Agha Zahid, a gen- tlemanly coach who represented Devon 15 years ago and scored a hundred on this ground, was delighted by their efforts. Despite the loss of Piran Holloway to a morning yorker, Somer- set began well as Simon Ecclestone drove with his customary belliger- ence. Ecclestone is called "the Major" and batted as if in an offi- cers` mess, whisky in hand and a couple of er- rant privates outside waiting upon his forgiveness. Soon his com- manding strokes forced Pak- istan to defend their boundaries. Meanwhile Peter Bowler nibbled along in search of form. Somerset reached 113 for one and not a trouble in sight. But Pakistan had not lost heart. Their spinners had bowled well and finally their efforts were recognised as Bowler edged to short leg. Now came a change over the game. Although he runs further than some folk go on their holidays, Irfan Fazil`s open- ing spell had not caught the eye. Now he tore in from the market end and ripped through Somerset`s raw middle order as Mark Lath- well, confidence in tatters, edged to slip and Keith Parsons worked across a straight one. It was an interesting time for Nick Boulton to make his first ap- pearance. Born in South Africa and educated at King`s Col- lege, Taunton, Boulton has scored enough schoolboy hundreds to per- suade Somerset to offer him a contract. Alas he has not played much adult cricket and it showed as Fazil beat him for pace as the Cider- men declined to 125 for five. Surging to the crease, Fazil had taken three for seven in 17 balls, a notable effort properly rewarded. Hereabouts one expected to see Marcus Trescothick walking to the crease. After all he had scored 322 for the 2nd XI the pre- vi- ous day. Here was a chance to encourage a substantial young cricketer. Instead he was left to twiddle his thumbs. Somerset said he needed a rest, an extraordinary assessment. Ecclestone and Jason Kerr did their best to restore their team`s position by advancing the total to 179 for five, the product of some forthright strokes. Ecclestone reached his hundred in 135 balls and fell straight afterwards, tickling Shoaib Malik`s capable off- breaks. Hereafter all was vigour and all collapsed as Kerr swept at Ali Hussain Rizvi`s fastish leg-spinners following which Steffan Jones and Kevin Shine swung lustily. Between times Stuart MacGill was held in his hip pocket as he swept optimistically. Jones and MacGill are playing because most of Somerset`s young bowlers, and all four spinners, have broken down. MacGill is widely regarded as the second best spinner in Australia and only a remarkably fiery temperament stands between him and achieve- ment. Already several counties have whispered sweet nothings into his ear. Pakistan also lost an early wicket as Ali Naqvi hooked to fine leg. Soon, though, their improving and inexperienced batsmen were taking charge and Elahi and Mujahid Jamshed added 122 for the second wicket. Their coach is not concerned that his team are so inexperi- enced. "They are here to learn," he says, "and they`re learning quickly." English players can seem me- chanical. Pakistan produce great cricketers because they give them opportunities while the spirit still burns hot within. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Tour Match: Appealing tourists sounding alarm bells By Bryon Butler at Taunton Second day of three: Pakistan (227 & 35-0) need 196 to beat Somerset (213 & 244). THIS even contest on an even pitch has an even chance of an en- tertaining finish. Pakistan A even have their sights on their first first-class win of their tour. Somerset are using the game to introduce four aspirants to county cricket - the Australian leg spinner Stuart Macgill, wicket- keeper Luke Sutton, Cambridge pace bowler Steffan Jones and left-handed batsman Nick Poulton - but their older hands have shaped the match: Simon Ecclestone (102 and 49), Mark Lathwell (60, 11 fours, in their second innings) and Kevin Shine (six for 74). The tourists, meanwhile, did everything with enthusiasm and much noise. They appeal for most things and, on Saturday, their screams for justice were accompanied by the bells of St Mary`s church which rang (presumably on auto-peal) for three hours non-stop. Salim Elahi, Mujahid Jamshed and Farhan Adil scored most of their runs, elegantly, and yesterday, needing 231 to win, Pak- istan scored 35 without loss in beautiful evening sunshine and Somerset, with- out the likes of Caddick, Mushtaq and Rose, may have difficulty in containing them. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Tour Match: Rapid Naqvi at home on the prairie By Bryon Butler at Taunton Pakistan A (227 & 231-5) bt Somerset (213 & 244) by 5 wickets THE Pakistan way is rarely dull and their A team, a unit of tender years, smote, persuaded and otherwise cajoled Somerset`s de- pleted attack towards most corners of the county in recording the first first-class win of their tour. They began the day on 35 for 0, needing another 196, and it was all over 50 minutes after lunch. They hit 41 fours in 45 overs with either happy gusto or disarming ease and their only problem, just occasionally, was over-ambition. The ground and conditions might have been tailored for them. The pitch offered some spin and bounce, but the ball came bright- ly on to the bat and the outfield was uniformly quick. The east boundary was also huge, about 100 yards from wicket to rope, and Pakistan milked it for all it was worth. That half of the ground was like a prairie - as big as the Woodbridge Road ground at Guildford where Alistair Brown created mayhem on Sun- day. Pakistan`s charge was led by Ali Naqvi, all wrist and eye, who scored 96 from 101 balls with 18 fours. He had no inhibitions, went right through with all his shots and was quick to improvise. He richly deserved his 100 but tried to complete it by hitting the leg-spin of Stuart Macgill over cover and Steffan Jones did well to hold on to a catch that was church-steeple high. Naqvi`s principal henchmen were captain Mohammad Wasim and Rana Qayyum who both made 40s, peppered with boundaries, at around a run a ball. Somerset laboured as best they could. Kevin Shine took two more wickets to finish with match figures of eight for 131 while Macgill, an Australian playing Devon League cricket but hoping for bet- ter things, bowled too charitable a length while he was coming over the wicket. He switched to around and tightened up but the damage was largely done. Luke Sutton, the Durham University wicketkeeper who lives in Bath, took five catches in the match and impressed with his neat- ness and speed of hand. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)