Combined Associate and Affiliate XI bowlers impress on Day 2

ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate (AM) XI continued its impressive showing in the three-day warm-up match against England on the second day as well.

On Sunday at the Global Cricket Academy Oval 1 here in Dubai, England resuming at the overnight score of 16 for no loss were restricted to 185 for 8 declared.

ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate (AM) XI, began its second innings with a lead of 96 runs, but lost its top-order rather cheaply to end the day's play at 90 for five.

At close of play, Mohammad Shahzad (batting 34) was holding fort for the Combined XI.

ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate (AM) XI now have an overall lead of 186 with one full day's play left on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the Combined XI bowling attack struck at regular intervals. Hamid Hassan (2-26), Mohammad Nabi (2-42), Boyd Rankin (2-49) were the chief wicket-takers for the Combined XI.

England Test vice-captain Alastair Cook (76: 121b, 14x4) held the innings together, but none of the other batsmen offered any real resistance. England lost six wickets for 87 runs in the session between lunch and tea before declaring the innings.

The biggest disappointment of the day for the Combined XI was the injury to fast bowler Hamid Hassan. Hassan got injured as he fell over the white picket fences at the long-on boundary and bruised his right thigh and left knee. He was cleared of any serious injury, but he was not available to take any further part in the game. As per an agreement between the two sides, left-arm spinner George Dockrell took Hassan's place in the playing XI.

Later in the day, England's quick bowlers led by Stuart Broad and James Anderson yet again turned in good spells to seize the initiative for the number one Test side.