Waqar and Wasim on form as Leicestershire collapse

Pakistan fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis reduced Leicestershire to 82-8 at lunch on the first day of the tour match at Grace Road.

They claimed four wickets each, with Waqar completing a hat-trick as the hosts collapsed on the opening morning of the four-day game.

Only opening batsman Iain Sutcliffe offered any resistance, remaining unbeaten at the interval with six fours in his 84-ball score of 49.

The other batsman to reach double figures was Darren Stevens, who made 17.

There were five ducks as the Pakistan fast bowlers made use of favourable conditions.

From the moment Wasim trapped Darren Maddy leg before wicket offering no shot to the second ball of the morning the tourists were on top.

In his next over, Wasim clean bowled debutante Ashley Wright and he did not concede a run until the third ball of his sixth over before taking his third wicket by getting Stevens leg before wicket.

When Ben Smith slashed a catch to backward point, Wasim had figures of four for seven from nine overs.

But he was then upstaged by his captain.

In his second over, Waqar trapped Neil Burns leg before wicket, bowled Phil De Freitas with his next delivery and completed the hat-trick by knocking back Omari Banks's off stump.

Leicestershire were then 41 for seven but Sutcliffe earned his side respectability with some lusty blows before Waqar struck again, this time winning an lbw decision against Carl Crowe.

Wasim's pre-lunch figures were four for 19 from 12 overs, while Waqar took four for 17 off six.

Mail Cricket Editor