Pakistan cricket and fielding is one thing that might not go hand-in-hand. Pakistan’s players have always been subjected to poor fielding and dropped catches at crucial junctures of the game. There are multiple videos and clips which highlight the poor state of Pakistan in the fielding department.
Once again, this poor fielding was displayed during Pakistan’s exhibition match against the Prime Ministers’ XI in Australia. The Pakistan team are playing the four-day warm-up match to get acclimatized to the conditions. Pakistan team batted first and scored 391 runs in the first innings before they declared.
Their bowling which is a concern with some key players injured continue to struggle on a terrific batting wicket. The opposition openers were able to notch up a solid century stand to put the pressure on the international powerhouse. These matches are beneficial to both sides to get some important time in the field ahead of the three-match series.
Watch: Matt Renshaw scoring a seven to reach fifty!
You don't see this every day! Matthew Renshaw brings up his half-century … with a seven! #PMXIvPAK pic.twitter.com/0Fx1Va00ZE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2023
In a strange incident, Matthew Renshaw reached his half-century during the four-day warm-up match with seven runs off one ball. Renshaw hit off-spinner Abrar Ahmed across the covers with the last delivery of the twenty-fourth over. With a full-stretch dive, Mir Hamza managed to keep the ball in play.
Things went wrong for Pakistan, just as it appeared that he had rescued a vital run. At the non-striker’s end, Babar Azam received a powerful throw speared in by Hamza from deep. With great power, Babar threw the ball because he felt there was a danger the striker might have gotten run out.
However, the ball managed to go between the hands of captain Shan Masood and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed before stopping outside the boundary ropes. In dramatic fashion, Saud Shakeel went and grabbed the ball as Renshaw reached his half-century. Renshaw is still batting and has notched up his century. He has been crucial to his side’s run-scoring in the first innings as they look to cut down the Pakistan lead.