Pakistan v Zimbabwe – Hafeez bowls Pakistan within sight of victory

Day 4 Report – 1^st Test: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, 1 - 5 September 2011

After Pakistan managed to get a 54-run lead, Zimbabwe made the pitch look like a minefield as Hafeez ran through their middle order, reducing them to 69 for 8 before a late recovery by Taibu ensured the match enters the final day.

Pakistan started well, with both Younis and Adnan Akmal playing out the first hour safely. Zimbabwean spinners, especially the ultra-miserly ray Price bowled on a leg-stump line. This not only restricted Pakistan, but made the rough come into play. Younis broke the chains which Price had tightened around him – just 9 runs off him in 82 balls – by coming down and launching him over long on for six.   
 
Akmal played with flare, reverse sweeping the spinners from outside leg and then leaning back to cut whenever opportunity arose. Pakistan went into the lead when Akmal late-cut Kyle Jarvis for four, third boundary of the over. Just when Pakistan looked like to run away from Zimbabwe, Akmal ran himself out for 45-ball 36 which included 5 fours.

Saeed Ajmal looked solid from the outset as Younis looked to move on, but Price removed him 12 shy of hundred. It was a vital wicket, as Zimbabwe bowled Pakistan out shortly after lunch despite resistance from Ajmal.  He was last man out for 28, as Pakistan made 466. Price bowled 50.1 overs and gave away just 69 runs for two wickets, bowling as many as 24 maiden overs!

Aizaz Cheema gave Pakistan an early breakthrough when Vusi Sibanda, a compulsive puller, perished playing another pull. After just 8 overs of seam, Misbah turned to his trump card, Ajmal, who broke through in his first over. Hero of the first innings, Tino Mawoyo, was bowled round his legs by a vicious turner. The flood gates were opened.

Cheema and Ajmal got a wicket each and Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for 4. Any thought of a rearguard action or a counter-attack was blown away by Mohammad Hafeez, who rocked the Zimbabwe middle order with his little pack of variations.

He too got a wicket - that of Craig Ervine - in his first over, when the batsman, playing for an off-spinner, missed the slider. From 45 for 5, Zimbabwe only had Tatenda Taibu to get them out of the mire. At the stroke of Tea, Sohail Khan misjudged a catch to let of Tatenda Taibu.


Best player of spin in his side, Taibu needed some one to stick with him but Hafeez got three out of the way in quick succession. It looked all over for Zimbabwe at 69 for 8, just 14 runs ahead.

The match looked like ending today, but Taibu and Jarvis stood firm to prevent that. After defending astutely for an hour, Taibu opened his arms to hit a couple of fours and a six off Hafeez. Jarvis too settled down and both ended the day at 135 for 8, a lead of 81 runs with a couple of wickets in hand.

Their unbeaten 66-run partnership has frustrated Pakistan but they still have defeat looming unless something dramatic happens on the final day.

Tenacious Taibu remained not out on 58, while Jarvis will resume on 20 when the final starts tomorrow with Pakistan firm favourites.

Summarised scores:

Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) and 135/8 (Taibu 58*, Hafeez 4/31) lead Pakistan (Hafeez 119, Azhar Ali 75; Lamb 2/85) by 81 runs with 2 wickets remaining