LAHORE -  The visiting Australian army team scored a narrow 4-run triumph over Lahore Gymkhana XI in a 30-over friendly fixture here on Saturday at Bagh-e-Jinnah ground.

It was the first success of the touring side which lost two back-to-back matches, first against Pak Army and then to Pakistan Youth XI. In the friendly encounter, the teams were the mix-up of both sides’ players and each side comprised 12 players.

Batting first, the Australian side was bowled out at 150 runs in 29 overs and restricted the home side to 146-9 with one over remaining. The highlight of the Australian innings was quick-fired 76 by Asif Ali, who hit 3 sixes and 7 fours off 48 balls. Terence Flaherty added 19 runs. Thomas Gilmore, Marc Brooks, Amin Khan and Farid ud Din claimed two wickets each from Lahore Gymkhana.  Gymkhana side needed 12 runs in the last over but they could manage to score 8 runs and victory slipped out of their hands. Nisar Zaman hammered solid 35 while Nisar Zaman added 30, Qaisar Iqbal and Zaman scored 18 runs each and Commissioner Lahore Abdullah Khan Sumbal 12 runs. Javed Ashraf and Ahmad Sahab supervised the match as umpires while Waris Bashir was the scorer.

Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman was the chief guest and gave away the prizes to the members of both the teams and officials.  Australian army coach, Captain Anthony Purton termed the tour to Pakistan 'memorable' as exciting cricket was being played in the match. "We are very delighted to be here and we are thankful to the Pakistan Army for the hospitality being extended to us and the excellent arrangements made for our tour," he said.