Wasim Akram, the long-serving left-armer, finished with 4 for 24 from seven overs to help Pakistan beat a Queensland XI by 15 runs in a 40-overs warm-up match today. Pakistan, who face Australia in a three-match one-day series starting in Melbourne next Wednesday, badly needed the workout after their recent series against New Zealand was cut short by a terrorist bomb.

Shahid Afridi claimed 2 for 23 to go with his 52 in Pakistan's innings. And Shoaib Akhtar, who will be duelling with Brett Lee in the one-day series for the title of the world's fastest bowler, bowled with pace and aggression to claim 2 for 27 from six overs, including blasting a yorker past the bat of Queensland's Daniel Payne to dismiss him for a second-ball duck.

Pakistan wrapped up a tight win with three balls remaining after bowling the Queensland XI out for 179 in the 39th over.

Earlier, some lusty lower-order hitting by Shoaib and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif helped a rusty Pakistan batting line-up to 194 for 8 from their 40 overs. Shoaib slammed 25 off 19 balls, including three fours and a six, and Latif chimed in with 25 off 36 balls.

Afridi, the opener, got Pakistan off to a bright start: his 52 came from 52 balls, and included four fours and three massive sixes - one of them off his team-mate Mohammad Sami.

Sami, the latest addition to the Pakistani quiver of quick bowlers, was invited to play for the home team in order to provide all the touring squad with match practice before their opening one-day match against Australia on Wednesday, indoors at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium.

Pakistan are without Abdul Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq, who are both playing in the English County Championship. Razzaq, the allrounder who won the Player of the Series award in the annual three-way one-day series in Australia two years ago, has just started for playing for Middlesex, while Saqlain, the offspinner, has resumed his successful association with Surrey.

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