Watch: Playing against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra, Pakistan captain Shan Masood top-scored with 156 not out in a team total of 324-6.

A somewhat surprising choice as Pakistan Test captain, Shan Masood’s maiden assignment is an Australian tour. It began with a four-day match at the Manuka Oval, where Masood won the toss and opted to bat, and walked out at 18-1 after eight overs.

Masood added 58 for the second wicket with Abdullah Shafique (38) and another 92 for the third with Babar Azam (40), the man he had replaced at the helm. The first fifty had taken Masood 79 balls, and the second another 90.

At the other end, Sarfaraz Ahmed blitzed his way to a 47-bal 41, but Masood continued even after the fifth wicket fell. He reached his 150 in the 86th over with a gorgeous cover drive for four off Nathan McAndrew, who had returned to share the second new ball.

Masood finished the day on 156 not out in 235 balls with 13 fours and a six. After losing Faheem Ashraf in the last over of the day, Pakistan went to stumps at 324-6. For the Prime Minister’s XI, Jordan Buckingham claimed 3-63.

Masood has two double-hundreds in all recorded cricket, both for Derbyshire in the County Championship in April 2022 – 239 against Sussex and 219 against Leicestershire.

Watch Shan Masood bring up his 150 on captaincy debut:

Shan Masood ticks past 150 with a lovely drive through the covers#PMXIvPAK pic.twitter.com/aq0moawejZ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2023

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