Pakistan v Zimbabwe – Hafeez and Cheema star in crushing win

Day 5 Report – Only Test: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, 1 - 5 September 2011

Pakistan registered an easy win on the final day, as Zimbabwe’s resistance did not last long, giving Pakistan an easy target of 88 to win, which they achieved losing just three wickets.

Tatenda Taibu perished in the very first over of the day, contrary to Zimbabwe’s expectations, when he edged behind off Aizaz Cheema. He did not add to his over-night 58.

Cheema celebrated his 32^nd birthday by ending the innings in his next over to bag 8 wickets on debut, second best figures for a Pakistani after Mohammad Zahid’s 11 for 130 against New Zealand in 1996.
 
Zimbabwe’s 141 meant Pakistan needed 88 to win on a weary but playable surface. Hafeez’s figures of 4 for 31 were his best in the Tests, as Cheema’s 4 for 24. Cheema showed character on a dead track by bowling his heart out. The way he hurried the batsmen and made use of the reverse swing will certainly do no harm for his Test future.

Zimbabwe started with Kyle Jarvis and Ray Price, but Hafeez and Taufeeq played their shots from the outset. Hafeez slog-swept Price for a six, while Taufeeq hit two crisp boundaries off Jarvis to start the chase aggressively. Taufeeq again left the scene cheaply as he got a good one from Jarvis.

Hafeez was going smoothly just like the fist innings, until Price bowled him around his legs when he went for a sweep the umpteenth time. He made a 37-ball 38 with the help of 6 fours and a six. Azhar too got out before Younis and Misbah steered Pakistan home well before the Lunch break.

This is Pakistan’s second consecutive Test win, a feat achieved after almost five years. The team continues to grow under Misbah who has a young but disciplined group of players. Zimbabwe too showed the willingness to fight against a much superior team. So the Test yielded something for both the teams.

Mohammad Hafeez earned man of the match award for his brilliant all-round performance, eclipsing the equally impressive efforts of Tino Mawoyo and Aizaz Cheema.

Summarised Scores:

Pakistan (Hafeez 119, Azhar Ali 75; Lamb 2/85) and 88/3 (Hafeez 38; Price 2/35) beat Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) and 141 (Taibu 58*; Cheema 4/24, Hafeez 4/31) by 7 wickets

Man of the match: Mohammad Hafeez