Kaneria turns the screw

Four wickets for Danish Kaneria and a fine hundred from Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan brush aside Leicestershire in the first warm-up match of their tour of England. Leicestershire were dismissed for just 191 in their second innings to leave Pakistan the relatively simple task of knocking off 203 which they managed with ease.

Resuming the day in the precarious position of 45 for 2, Leicestershire lost their opener Darren Robinson immediately and Jeremy Snape, the captain, didn't last long either when he was bowled by Umar Gul for 5. Tom New, the 21-year-old middle-order batsman and John Sadler shared a fifth-wicket stand of 105 to steady proceedings, with New (67) playing the anchor role while Sadler struck 11 fours in his adventurous 58-ball 51.

The introduction of Kaneria after lunch was the key, however, as he ran through the lower-order to take 4 for 32 as Leicestershire lost their last five wickets in just six overs. This left Pakistan the relatively straightforward task of knocking off 203, albeit from just 58 overs. That they cruised to victory was largely thanks to Malik who, promoted to open the innings to give him time in the middle, struck an excellent 112 Imran Farhat and Salman Butt both fell cheaply to Chris Liddle - who bowled very tidily in his ten overs to concede just 27 runs - but both struck solid fifties in Pakistan's first innings, indicating that the tourist's batting form is already showing promising signs of form.

Malik was there at the end, along with his captain, Younis Khan, who ended with a hurried 55 with six fours and a six. Pakistan next face England A - a team whose strong squad include Matthew Hoggard, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook - on Thursday, at Canterbury, ahead of the first Test at Lord's which starts the following week.