Tino Mawoyo scored a fine 163 not out as Zimbabwe drained Pakistan to post a big first innings score. Mohammad Hafeez then counterattacked with a strokeful unbeaten half century to keep Pakistan at par with Zimbabwe.
Mawoyo's innings was a model of patience as he batted for 645 minutes, consuming 453 balls; third longest ever innings by a Zimbabwean. It was a little fortuitous knock but full of grit and determination.
He put on 96 with Craig Ervine, as Pakistan had to wait for their first wicket in the morning session. Ervine became Junaid Khan’s first Test victim as he lobbed a return catch to a relieved Junaid. He missed a well-deserved fifty by just one run.
Second new ball did not prove productive for Pakistan as debutant Greg Lamb gave good company to Mawoyo, who inched towards his century after entering the nervous nineties. After a few nervous moments he reached the landmark - his maiden Test ton - off 327 balls with 12 fours.
After Lunch, with score at 314 for 5, Mawoyo played more purposefully and the score moved along at a better rate. Lamb missed out on a debut fifty, when Ajmal got him LBW for 39. It was then Aizaz Cheema’s turn to get his first Test scalp, by removing Ray Price through a sharp catch at short leg by Azhar Ali.
Cheema made good use of the reverse swing getting next three wickets; two of them clean-bowled. The delivery which nailed Kyle Jarvis was a special one, an inswinging yorker. Mawoyo, meanwhile, continued his vigil and reached 150. Adnan Akmal missed a stumping, but Cheema ended the innings by removing the last man, as Mawoyo was left stranded on 163 not out.
His innings gave Zimbabwe a chance to ensure Pakistan start under pressure when they come out to bat. Ajmal and Cheema both took 4 wickets each.
Pakistan lost Taufeeq Umar cheaply – LBW to Kyle Jarvis - but Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali played out the day by knitting together a 100-run partnership.
Hafeez was enterprising as he played delicious strokes all around the park, making full use of the docile track. He got a life early in his innings when Taylor dropped a sitter in slips, off Brian Vitori. He remained unbeaten on 79, in just 93 balls with the help of 15 crispy boundaries and a bent-knee six over midwicket off Lamb. Azhar too looked solid for his 27.
Pakistan were 116 for 1 at stumps, in just 29 overs. Hafeez and Azhar have an opportunity to score big for themselves, and give Pakistan a solid platform come the third day of the Test match.
Summarised scores:
Pakistan 116/1 (Hafeez 79*) trail Zimbabwe 412/110 (Tino Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) by 296 runs
Published in sportpulse.net on 2 Sep 2011
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