Many experts termed Zimbabwe's decision to bowl first as surrender of sorts but what transpired over the day left a lot of red faces in the Pakistani batting line-up. Mohammad Hafeez's constant failures to score in Test matches is a source of concern as is the penchant for some set batsmen to throw their wickets away as demonstrated by the Captain Misbah-ul-Haq. The best case scenario for Pakistan is for the last wicket pair of Saeed Ajmal and Rahat Ali to add some quick runs tomorrow and for the Pakistan bowling attack to take the game to the hosts. Failing which, Pakistan may have to endure an embarrassing 4 days of cricket with an unthinkable result at the end.

By PakPassion Staff (3rd September, 2013)

Teams:

Zimbabwe: V Sibanda, TMK Mawoyo, H Masakadza, Sikandar Raza, MN Waller, R Mutumbami, E Chigumbura, P Utseya, SW Masakadza, T Panyangara, TL Chatara

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Khurram Manzoor, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali

Hamilton Masakadza took charge of Zimbabwe, in the absence of Brendan Taylor, whose wife was expecting a child.

The start from the Pakistan top order was dreadful. Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez in the 7th over, when he played a nothing shot in the hands of Vusi Sibanda off Chatara. Panyangara then sent his opening partner, Khurram Manzoor, packing shortly after in the 12th over for 11.

The ever so experienced, Younis Khan, could not hang around either and played one on to his stumps. He was bowled by Panyangara for 3 in the 14th over. This lead to a period of play which promised to provide stability to the batting line up with Captain dependable, Misbah-ul-Haq, taking guard in this state of crisis and Azhar Ali batting alongside him.

The runs were scored at a brisk pace and 8 boundaries were struck in 12 overs. Misbah-ul-Haq reached his half century, but failed to carry on, when he was caught sharply by Vusi Sibanda for 53. A couple of overs later, Azhar Ali brought his half century up with a four. Asad Shafiq didn’t stick for long and his downfall was brought by Prosper Utseya. Adnan Akmal looked fine, but not for long as he played on to Chatara for 18.

This brought in the tail which did not look to hang around for too long. Abdur Rehman was first of the tail-enders to be trapped in front by Shingi Masakadza for 7. Azhar Ali who was anchoring the innings soon followed him, when he edged to slip off the same bowler. He stayed on the crease for 263 minutes and accumulated 78 runs.

The stag was thus set for a Saeed Ajmal special - he and Junaid Khan played according to the requirement and added some useful runs for the team. The 9th wicket partnership yielded 67 runs before Junaid Khan was caught behind off Panyangara in the last over for 17, while Saeed Ajmal remained unbeaten on 49.

Fall Of Wickets

1-13 (Mohammad Hafeez, 6.3 overs)
2-21 (Khurram Manzoor, 11.5 overs)
3-27 (Younis Khan, 13.6 overs)
4-120 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 46.2 overs)
5-132 (Asad Shafiq, 50.2 overs)
6-157 (Adnan Akmal, 59.4 overs)
7-173 (Abdur Rehman, 67.6 overs)
8-182 (Azhar Ali, 71.3 overs)
9-249 (Junaid Khan, 89.5 overs)

Many experts termed Zimbabwe's decision to bowl first as surrender of sorts but what transpired over the day left a lot of red faces in the Pakistani batting line-up. Mohammad Hafeez's constant failures to score in Test matches is a source of concern as is the penchant for some set batsmen to throw their wickets away as demonstrated by the Captain Misbah-ul-Haq. The best case scenario for Pakistan is for the last wicket pair of Saeed Ajmal and Rahat Ali to add some quick runs tomorrow and for the Pakistan bowling attack to take the game to the hosts. Failing which, Pakistan may have to endure an embarrassing 4 days of cricket with an unthinkable result at the end.

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