Pakistan nervy again under lights

Pakistan remain in control of their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI, but there are concerns about their ability to play the pink ball under lights after they lost four top-order wickets in the final session of the second day.

The visitors scored at just 2.28 an over on Friday evening to go to stumps at 5-124, a lead of 218 with one day to play in Cairns.

The session took their match aggregate with a full-strength top order under lights to 10-153 - all against players that have just 27 Sheffield Shield matches among them.

It could be of serious concern to the visiting captain Misbah-ul-Haq, whose side is unlikely to have any further match batting practice under lights before next Thursday's day-night Test against Australia at the Gabba.

Misbah himself recorded a duck to go with his first-innings 20, facing 29 balls before he was bowled by Ryan Lees, playing on after fending at a ball outside off stump.

Opener Azhar Ali looked the most comfortable, regularly walking down the wicket at opposition bowlers to go to stumps at 44no, while Sarfraz Ahmed is on four.

After Sami Aslam (12) was unlucky to be adjudged lbw after leaving a ball before the dinner break, the visitors lost Babar Azam two balls into the final session when he edged to first slip.

Veteran Younis Khan was then run out for seven following a mix-up before Misbah's prolonged stay for no score.

Asad Shafiq was the last to go, bowled between bat and pad by a ball that moved back in at him.

It came after the team's bowlers enjoyed far more success with the pink ball, dismissing the CA XI for 114.

Paceman Mohammad Amir had the hosts 4-3 overnight, swinging the ball back violently under lights to claim three early wickets.

He was again their most likely on Friday afternoon, but finished with 3-15 from 10 overs after opener Ali dropped his best chance early in the day at third slip.

Rahat Ali (3-26) also claimed three wickets. After having opener Jake Carder caught at gully on Thursday night, he broke a 57-run stand between Matthew Short (27) and Jake Winter (39) when the latter played on attempting to cut.

He had Arjun Nair (0) caught behind two balls later, allowing Pakistan to regain control of the three-day match.

Part-time legspinner Azhar Ali then claimed the key wicket of Short (lbw) after first-choice spinner Mohammad Nawaz (0-20) went wicketless in his five overs.

Paceman Wahab Riaz (3-28) cleaned up the tail in the team's only warm-up match.

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