Amir destroys CA XI with swing masterclass

Pakistan quick Mohammad Amir took three wickets in his first two overs and Rahat Ali chipped in with another to leave the Cricket Australia XI 4-3 in reply to the tourists' 208 on day one of their warm-up clash in Cairns. 

Utilising a brand new pink ball under lights, Amir had the ball on a string from the outset, the left-armer finding dramatic late swing to castle James Peirson and trap Will Bosisto lbw with the first two balls of the innings. 

Matters got worse for the CA XI the following owner, when Rahat had Jake Carder caught for a duck to leave the score at a scarcely believable 3-0. 

Amir had three the following over when he removed Ryan Lees for two as the home side sunk into deeper trouble. 

Earlier, Pakistan got off to a shaky start , the visitors struggling to get their total beyond 200 against the inexperienced Cricket Australia XI.

Misbah-ul-Haq's men were particularly tentative in their first encounter with a pink ball on Australian soil, where a number of batsmen were out pushing hesitantly at the ball.

Perhaps most concerning for the visitors will be the fact they lost six wickets in the final session under lights, just a week out from the series-opening day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane.

South Australian Cameron Valente also made a name for himself, claiming four wickets, including three of Pakistan's top six.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the visitors fell to 3-50 midway through the opening session, and wickets went down steadily from then on in.

Only veteran Younis Khan offered a sustained resistance, holding out for 138 balls before he inside-edged a Ryan Lees ball that swung back slightly under lights to be caught behind for 54.

He was the only Pakistani batsman to reach 50, however each of their top seven were able to spend at least 20 balls in the middle.

They lost opener Sami Aslam (10) in the eighth over when he was bowled attempting to work paceman Cameron Wheatley to fine leg.

No.3 Babar Azam (16) and opener Azhar Ali (23) were then both caught at gully.

Mark Steketee (3-47) had Azam pushing at one that swung a long way away from him, while Ali checked his stroke to a ball that went straight on from Valente (4-36).

The opener had also survived two LBW appeals and an edge through slips in his first 15 balls.

Veteran Misbah (20) then edged one from Valente to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis to leave the visitors in distinct trouble against a host side that has just 27 matches of domestic first-class cricket between them.

With the ball swinging more under lights, Valente then claimed his third when Asad Shafiq chopped on trying to cut the ball.

Safaraz Ahmed was the only player to attempt to lift the tempo, striking 39 from 66 before he was caught at mid off after a getting a leading edge to a ball that swung in sharply from Steketee.

Tailenders Mohammad Nawaz (4), Mohammad Amir (0) and Wahab Riaz (16) each then fell quickly as the hosts wrapped up the tail.

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