Date-stamped : 07 Jul96 - 22:16 Tetley's Challenge Series Somerset v Pakistan Taunton 3,4,5 July 1996 ====> REPORT (Day 1, 3 Jul 1996) Tour Match: Graceful Saeed stays on song By Peter Deeley at Taunton First day of three: Pakistan 253-5 v Somerset SAEED ANWAR, Pakistan`s left-handed opener, continued his run spree with a second three-figure score in four days. In size it did not match the unbeaten 219 he took off Glamorgan on Sunday, but this was another innings of quality, graced par- ticularly by deft driving intersecting the legside field. With the cautious Asif Mujtaba, Anwar added 157 for the third wicket after Pakistan had been put in. Then when it seemed they would overrun a weakened Somerset attack, Shane Lee struck back with three wickets in 18 deliveries. Andrew Caddick - omitted ostensibly with back twinges but more probably on account of Somerset`s NatWest Trophy clash here with neighbours Gloucestershire next week - was unable to make a play for a Test return, but Lee and Kevin Shine shared the five wick- ets that fell in a rain-shortened day. It was a case of Amir Sohail and farewell as the Pakistan captain departed off the day`s third ball, flicking at a rising ball from Shine - whose first two deliveries had been wides. Then Shahid Anwar was leg before to Shine playing across his front pad. But the other Anwar was totally in control, collecting 21 boundaries and scoring at almost a run a ball before he drove loosely at Lee and lost his off-stump. In the Australian`s next over Inzamam-ul-Haq was caught by Rob Turner. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) ====> REPORT (Day 2, 3 Jul 1996) (Electronic Telegraph, UK) Tetley Challenge: signs and delivers By Peter Deeley at Taunton Second day of three: Pakistan (300-7 dec & 107-1) lead Somerset (159) by 248 MUSHTAQ Ahmed signed a new and lucrative contract with Somerset yesterday and then promptly bit the hand which will feed him. The Pakistan leg-spinner, who returns to the West Country for two seasons next year, took five wickets in the space of 13 overs despite five frustrating rain breaks in the day. In three seasons here Mushtaq took 225 wickets and Somerset know how much they are missing his skills this summer. Details of the deal have not been revealed, but his worth cannot be much less than #50,000 a year. Mushtaq was "very happy" to be back with a side where he was treated as one of the players, not as an overseas professional. He is being encouraged these days to bowl more leg-breaks and fewer googlies: "I also know now the quality of patience - not every delivery can be wicket-taking." There was little evidence of the new wisdom during the Somerset innings, however, as Mushtaq baffled every batsman until Kevin Shine fetched him for a big six over midwicket. Peter Bowler was one man to show much resistance, fighting a near lone hand for 2.5 hours for his 68, including 12 boundaries. Then he tried to sweep against the spin and a top edge looped to deep square leg. Mushtaq got a wicket in each of his first two overs, beginning with Marcus Trescothick, caught at short leg via glove and pad. The diminutive spinner even got in on the act in the field, a direct hit from a throw from square leg running out Simon Eccle- stone. Waqar Younis enjoyed his day, too, with three wickets as well as sending Shane Lee to hospital for X-rays on a bruised left hand. Day`s end saw another blistering display from Saeed Anwar. His half-century came at more than a run a ball, giving him 409 in his last three innings. ====> REPORT (Day 3, 5 Jul 1996) (Rediff On The NeT, India) Mushtaq bowls Pakistan to win over Somerset By Our Correspondent Five for 72 in the second innings. Ten for 108 in the match. And against the county he has been playing for, for the past three seasons. Mushtaq Ahmed, the cherubic Pakistan leggie, has served no- tice on England that the upcoming series, with three Tests and three one-day internationals, between the two sides is not going to be as easy for the home side as the one just ending against India. In the process, Pakistan have won their first Tetley Chal- lenge match of this tour, and pocketed 2,500 pounds. Last time they toured here, in 1992, they won nine out of 12, and pocketed 50,000 pounds. What will be worrying the England side most is the fact that Pak- istan is in form down the line. Their batsmen are at their strokeplaying best - Inzamam, who failed in the first innings here after his century last week against Glamorgan, came out this morning with Pakistan on 107 for one and needing quick runs to put pressure on Somerset. And quick runs is what the tourists got, as Inzamam powered to his 50 off only 42 deliveries, with two sixes and four fours all struck in his trademark lazy- looking style. Pakistan then declared, with its second innings score on 174 for one, and challenged Somerset to score 316 in 78 overs to win. The county must have figured that with Waqar Younis, who took four wickets in the first innings, out of the attack with a slight hamstring strain, it had a good chance to draw, if not win, the game. But the cherubic Mushie, Somerset`s overseas pro for the past three seasons, came up with a dream spell of 23-6-72-5 and, with Mohammad Akram, Ata-ur-Rehman, Aamir Sohail and Asif Mujtaba all chipping in to take a wicket every now and again, Somerset fell 105 runs behind the target. The win, without the bowling of Younis and Akram, will have put Atherton and his men on notice that they are in for testing times against a Pakistan that is apparently determined to re- tain the Cornhill Trophy it last won in 1992, by a margin of 2-1. Source :: Rediff On The NeT (http://www.rediff.co.in) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)