Trescothick hundred lifts England

Marcus Trescothick's gritty 124 not out lifted England to 256 for nine wickets at close of play on the first day of their three-day match against a Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI.

The left-handed opener stroked 16 fours and two sixes in his 209 balls innings, which spanned 330 minutes. Alex Loudon (3) was at the crease with him.

Trescothick put on 117 runs with Matthew Prior (50) for the ninth wicket to rescue England, who had slumped to 61 for six at lunch.

Pace bowler Yasir Arafat was the pick of the Patron's attack with four wickets for 45 runs, including Prior.

Arafat, who played a one-day international in 2000 against Sri Lanka and is a professional for Scotland, bowled all his victims.

He triggered an England batting collapse before lunch by dismissing Paul Collingwood (0), Ian Bell (2) and Geraint Jones (4) in successive overs.

Prior was beaten by a leg-cutter after tea, having hit eight fours in his enterprising knock from just 61 balls.

Trescothick also put on stands of 38 with Ashley Giles (30) and 32 with Shaun Udal (14).

Giles was trapped lbw by leg-spinner Imran Tahir with the score on 98 and Udal then mistimed a hook off Najaf Shah for his third wicket.

Making the ball dart around and bounce appreciably, Shah bowled Andrew Strauss (5) and had Michael Vaughan leg before for nine.

Yasir Ali chipped in with the wicket of Kevin Pietersen.

England, who play their first Test against Pakistan from November 12 in Multan, have been given permission to try out all their 14-players in the practice game.