Saud Shakeel boosted Pakistan’s chances in the three-Test series against England when he scored an unbeaten century as the visitors defeated Professional County Club Select XI by seven wickets on the third and final day at The County Ground in Beckenham on Saturday.

Playing his first match since May, and after scoring 30 in the first innings, Saud returned unbeaten on 100 from 147 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, as Pakistan chased down the 262-run target in 57.1 overs. After conceding a 67-run first-innings lead, Pakistan will be satisfied and confident as they travel to Leeds on Sunday, where the first Test begins at Headingley on Wednesday. The remaining two Tests will be played at Lord’s and Edgbaston.

Saud’s return to form will give Pakistan plenty of heart after Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan struggled for runs in the West Indies. Salman scored 14 and 6 against Kent, while Rizwan followed up his 22 in the first innings with a 48-ball 33 in the second innings.

Also showing signs of form was opener Imam-ul-Haq, who, after scoring 37 in the first innings, struck 80 from 88 balls with 13 fours. Imam dominated the 127-run second-wicket partnership with Saud after Azan Awais was dismissed for one.

Saud and Rizwan put on 70 runs for the third wicket, before Saud and Awais Zafar (30 not out) added 52 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket.

Earlier, PCCS XI resumed their second innings on Saturday morning at 128 for three, with a 195-run lead, but were dismissed for 194. Left-arm spinner Ali Usman claimed five of the seven wickets to fall to finish with figures of 9.1-0-42-5.

Ubaid Shah also turned his arm over for five overs, picking up two wickets for nine runs. Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Sajid Khan did not bowl on Saturday.

Scores in brief (day 3 of 3):

PCCS XI 305 all out, 69.5 overs (SA Zaib 65, MD Fisher 62 not out, CM Falconer 59, TJ Haines 51, JJG Sales 29; Mohammad Ali 3-23, Mohammad Abbas 3-37, Khurram Shahzad 2-55, Aamir Jamal 1-32, Ali Usman 1-38) and (overnight 128-3, 26 overs) 194 all out, 41.1 overs (CB Falconer 56, Saif Zaib 24, Manny Lumsden 24, JEK Rew 40; Ali Usman 5-42, Ubaid Shah 2-9, Mohammad Ali 1-10, Salman Ali Agha 1-23, Sajid Khan 1-39)

PAKISTAN 238 all out, 71.2 overs (Abdullah Shafique 61, Saud Shakeel 30, Ghazi Ghori 27, Mohammad Rizwan 22; Shoaib Bashir 4-76, Saif Zaib 2-24, Manny Lumsden 2-24) and 264-3, 57.1 overs (Saud Shakeel 100 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 80, Mohammad Rizwan 33, Awais Zafar 30 not out)