Pakistan needed to bat whole of the third day without losing too many wickets to get back on even terms with Zimbabwe. Mohammad Hafeez, with his third Test century, lead the way for them, but loss of 5th wicket at the stroke of stumps meant the match was still hanging in balance.
Hafeez, still on the overnight score of 79, got another life in day’s second over, when Chris Mpofu could not hold on to a simple return catch. Hafeez slowed down as he neared hundred, but Azhar played a few classy drives for four en route to reach his fifty.
Hafeez then pulled Vitori emphatically to bring up his ton, on 127 balls with 16 fours and a six. Contrary to the first hour, both batsmen decelerated considerably in the second hour before Lunch. Ultra defensive approach cost Hafeez his wicket as he drove tamely to midwicket off part-timer Hamilton Masakadza. He made an attractive 119, his highest test score.
The post Lunch session saw Pakistan build another century-plus partnership, between Younis and Misbah, after Azhar Ali perished, missing an opportunity to get to his maiden hundred on a belter. He nicked behind off Greg lamb to go for 75 filled with 11 boundaries. He did really well to get Pakistan on track after an early wicket, as he and Hafeez put together 188 runs for the third wicket.
Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq both got a life each, as Zimbabwe fielders emulated Pakistan in the catching department. Misbah, after getting a life off Lamb, went after him by hitting two fours interspersed with a bent-knee swept six. Ray Price, who was bowling extra-miserly, holding one end up, made Younis glove one that turned but to his agony the chance was spilled at forward short leg. After Tea, Misbah reached his fifty before Younis. It was his ninth fifty in last eleven innings.
Misbah continued to sweep and get boundaries, until he fell over while attempting another off Greg Lamb, and was caught by Vitori at short fine leg. He made 66 but promised more. Umar Akmal joined Younis and played cautiously as the day approached to an end. Younis reached to his fifty, a very subdued one by his standards.
Playing for the day, both laboured in the last hour or so. Younis remained unbeaten for 61, but Umar Akmal was unlucky to be dismissed in a peculiar fashion in the last over of the day. He pulled Lamb fiercely but the ball ricocheted off the forward short leg fielder and popped up to Taylor at leg gully who happily swallowed it.
Umar’s wicket gave Zimbabwe hope of getting Pakistan out short of their own total, and then if they could put Pakistan under pressure if they bat well in the second innings. Pakistan, with a long and inexperienced tail, still have a lot of work at their disposal.
The morning session will be an important one for both teams.
Summarised scores:
Pakistan 357-5 (Hafeez 119, Azhar Ali 75; Lamb 2/85) trail Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) by runs 55 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
Image credit: thenews.com.pk
Published in sportpulse.net on 3Sep 2022
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