Bradford Park Avenue 5, Pakistan XI 3

Bradford Park Avenue’s summer recess ended on the hottest day of the summer as they beat a Pakistan XI at a Horsfall Stadium bathed in bright sunshine.

The blistering heat meant the pace of the game was not as intense as it could have been and, in a scene more akin to Lord’s, there was a drinks break. The game was stopped midway through the second half to allow players and officials to take liquids on board.

The entertainment level, however, was maintained throughout. It was not an eight-goal thriller but there were periods when one side dominated.

Pakistan stunned Avenue when they took the lead with an early goal from a long throw-in. The ball was hurled into the six-yard box, headed on and then volleyed in at the far post by Imad Abbasi.

Avenue responded quickly and it was all level by the fifth minute. A good passing move on the left flank created the opening and Richard Marshall stroked the ball home from just outside the six-yard box.

A clash of heads in the 16th minute between Adam Clayton of Avenue and Abbasi led to a long stoppage as the Pakistan player was treated. The goal-scorer was not able to continue and was substituted, Kamran Khan coming on in his place.

Clayton put Avenue in the lead for the first time when he drilled a 27th-minute shot between Pakistan keeper Yousuf Butt and his left-hand post.

And Avenue took a two-goal lead into the break after close-season signing Chib Chilaka slotted in a good finish to mark his debut.

Pakistan came out after the interval with renewed determination and they were soon back on terms. Shani Abbasi just beat a home defender to a through-ball and shot past advancing Avenue keeper John Lamb. His shot struck the inside of the post but it had crossed the line before Avenue skipper Nathan Hotte hooked the ball away.

Just moments later Abbasi turned provider and his superb through-ball invited substitute Shahzad Iqbal to steer the equaliser past Lamb.

There were regular substitutions as the heat took its toll and some of the players who had made way earlier even came back on.

Avenue finished strongly and threatened the Pakistan goal even before they netted a couple of late goals.

Tom Corner netted a low shot after good work from Marshall and Alex Davidson. Then when a shot from Corner in the last minute was only parried by the visitors’ keeper, skipper Hotte pounced to net the rebound.