Zimbabwe lead by 185 with two days to go after a dominant performance on Day 3.

by Pakpassion Staff (12th September 2013)

Pakistan’s old guns, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, in a hope of playing out the old ball and then seeing off the new ball, started proceedings for Pakistan. They did the first part right, but off the second delivery with the new ball, Misbah-ul-Haq edged a widish ball from Brian Vitori towards Hamilton Masakadza at slip. He took the catch gleefully and the skipper departed for 33 off 120 balls, which looked slow even by his own standards.
Asad Shafiq came in, but failed to change fortunes. He was bowled by Tendai Chatara for 10. The no-ball decision was referred to the TV umpire, who stood by the on-field umpire. 

Right after the lunch interval, Pakistan lost their 5th wicket in the shape of a settled Younis Khan, who gave a sharp catch to Tino Mawoyo off Tinashe Panyangara for 77. On the very next ball, Abdur Rehman was trapped lbw by the same bowler. Pakistan never got going and Adnan Akmal was caught by Brendan Taylor off Brian Vitori for 6. In his next over, he got the wickets of Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan to complete his 5 wickets in the innings and to become only the 2nd player after Kyle Jarvis to take 5 wickets in an innings after Zimbabwe’s return to Test cricket. 

Zimbabwe ended Pakistan’s innings for 230 and got a precious lead of 64 runs. 

Fall Of Wickets

4-182 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 80.2 overs)
5-211 (Asad Shafiq, 93.3 overs)
6-212 (Younis Khan, 97.4 overs)
7-212 (Abdur Rehman, 97.5 overs)
8-224 (Adnan Akmal, 102.4 overs)
9-229 (Saeed Ajmal, 104.2 overs) 
10-230 (Junaid Khan, 104.5 overs)

 

Vusi Sibanda had a stomach bug and wasn’t able to bat, so Zimbabwe sent Prosper Utseya in to open the innings with Tino Mawoyo. The move didn’t come off and he was sent on his way by Rahat Ali for 5. Hamilton Masakadza and Tino Mawoyo steadied the ship and built on the lead. Tino Mawoyo brought up his fifty and both of then brought up the 100-run partnership with Hamilton Masakadza. The day went to the very last phase, when Pakistan roared back into the match after lagging behind the entire day. Tino Mawoyo was trapped lbw by Abdur Rehman for 58. In the next over, Rahat Ali got the better of Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 44. Then, in the last over of the day, Abdur Rehman took the wicket of Tinashe Panyangara, the night-watchman, for a duck.

Pakistan ended the day on a high, but Zimbabwe had accumulated a vital lead of 185 runs.


Fall Of Wickets

1-13 (Utseya, 5.3 overs) 
2-117 (Mawoyo, 48.6 overs) 
3-121 (Masakadza, 49.4 overs) 
4-121 (Panyangara, 50.2 overs)

 

Pakistan's late wickets were the only real positive on a day dominated by Zimbabwe. Younis Khan and Misbah batted very slowly in the first session, and their dismissals sparked a collapse from which it will be very difficult to recover. Credit must go to the hosts who bowled tight lines and held their catches, but Pakistan will feel they haven't really played aggressively enough or tried to dominate their opponents enough.

With the bat, Zimbabwe showed plenty of grit and determination to take themselves towards a sizeable lead. The three late wickets have given Pakistan a sniff, but with the pitch already showing signs of deterioration, the current lead of 185 already looks quite a tough ask for a fragile Pakistani batting lineup.

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