Pakistan ‘A’ continues dominance over Zimbabwe ‘A’

ZIMBABWE “A” has lost grip of the first four-day match against Pakistan “A” which is taking place at Kwekwe Sports Club after day two ended with the hosts trailing by 409 runs yesterday.

After total dominance with the bat, Pakistan declared their first innings on 521/3 in 115,3 overs before going on to leave Zimbabwe “A” struggling on 112/4 in 41 overs at stumps. The visitors’ innings was anchored by a Omair Yousuf unbeaten double century.

Having managed to take only two wickets on the first day, the hosts went on to take one more scalp before the visitors declared just after Yousuf reached 250 runs after facing 342 deliveries.

The only Pakistani wicket that fell yesterday was that of Kamran Ghulam who scored 26 runs from 70 balls. Ghulam’s wicket was taken by Tanaka Chivanga who had him trapped in front for a leg before wicket (lbw).

On the other end, Ghulam was supported by Hussain Talat who also finished unbeaten on 51 runs off 90 deliveries.
In their chase, Zimbabwe ‘A’ lost an early wicket of Joylord Gumbie who was run out for just one run, having faced 11 deliveries.

A fourth first class half century for Dion Myers gave the hosts a fighting chance before he fell for 56 runs off 92 balls.
Tanunurwa Makoni was the second leading run getter for Zimbabwe ‘A’ at the end of play yesterday with 21 runs off 59 balls while Wessly Madhevere was run out for 15 runs from 26 balls.

Team captain Roy Kaia was in the middle at stumps alongside Faraz Akram and they will continue today on 12 and one run respectively. Mehran Mumtaz took two wickets for Pakistan “A” as the other two that fell were run outs.

After the completion of the first match, the second four-day game is scheduled to take place from 10-13 May in Mutare before action moves to Harare for the 50-over series pitting a Zimbabwe Select team against the tourists, with the first encounter pencilled for Takashinga Cricket Club on May 17.

Zimbabwe is using the series as part of their preparations for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023.

The 10-team global event is set to take place from 18 June to 9 July 2023 in Harare and Bulawayo and the series against Pakistan ‘A’ will be Zimbabwe’s last ahead of the crunch qualifiers.
Play resumes at 0930hrs for the penultimate third day.
— @brandon_malvin.