adminJeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
THE match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan had been kept in the balance because of clever bowling combinations from both teams.
Old champion Younis Khan scored an unbeaten 200 but acknowledged that his match-saving innings was not handed over to him on a silver platter.
“The Zimbabweans bowled so well, they made it difficult for us, it’s definitely good practice for us when we get back to Dubai,” said Khan.
Mountaineers’ Tendai ‘Wasu’ Chatara has been impressive.
Chris Mpofu would have been a part of this Test team but is still out through injury.
He has been watching from the sidelines and hailed the young Chatara for his ability to constantly advance himself into a lethal bowler.
“I have always been a fan of Tendai Chatara, even in life he has been like my little brother.
“He has come a long way now do become this refined, when he was in the West Indies he was criticised for not going all the way in terms of bowling quicker in the first spell and not doing very well in his second spells,” said Mpofu.
Chatara, 22, played two matches in the West Indies on debut taking four wickets in the process.
The match against Pakistan is his third and he took three wickets for 64 runs in the first innings and then two for 99 runs in the second.
“If you look at how he has played in this match he has actually managed to come almost at full pace in all his spells and I think he has bowled more overs than the spinners and I think he has done pretty well and he has a good future.
“We might be fooled by the bounce he gets but I think on a good day he can clock 140km/h and if he is going to bowl 135km/h it’s good enough especially when you look at the length that he is hitting,” said Mpofu.
Online Reporter