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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE tail enders stood firm to breathe life and pushed their innings to 294 but Pakistan batsman Younis Khan once again stole the limelight with an unbeaten 52 to guide his side to 163 for 3 at close of play on the second day of the second Test at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Younis reached a half century that marked 7 000 Test runs as he stabilised a Pakistan defence that had wobbled against the Zimbabwe attack earlier on.
Having started the day from an overnight total of 237 for 8, Zimbabwe managed to add almost 60 runs from the last two wickets before they shook the Pakistan top order as the tourists ended the day on 163 for 3.
Zimbabwe were early to unsettle Pakistan who lost three wickets inside 39 overs and were 96 for 3 before the fourth wicket partnership of Younis (unbeaten on 52 off 127 balls with six fours) and Misbuh-ul-Huq (also unbeaten on 27) stabilised the tourists.
The Pakistan top order had shook after giving in to seamers Tinashe Panyangara and Brian Vitori, who each took a wicket, first it was Vitori claiming the scalp of Mohammad Hafeez (22) before Panyangara trapped Azhar Ali (7) lbw.
Next on the line was Khurram Manzoor who was run out on 51.
Manzoor set off but Younis stayed back and Chigumbura at leg gully, fed wicket-keeper Richmond Mutumbami, to leave the tourists at 96 for 3 and the huge appeals saw him given out.
This was when Misbuh-ul-Huq joined Younis between the stumps and they formed somewhat a formidable partnership that stabilised Pakistan, posting 67 runs between themselves with Younus also celebrating his 7 000 Test runs.
It was with his half century that Younis reached his milestone off a Vitori delivery just before close of play, edging between the slips and gully for four.
Manzoor could have gone out earlier without scoring a run when he nicked Vitori off his glove for Mutumbami, who took it down the leg side, but his survival here saw him drive all the way to a half century.
With about 30 minutes into the day, Chatara was also lucky to survive, and could have been caught with a single run to his name as Junaid Khan thought the Zimbabwean had touched the ball on its way to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, but this was not given.
Easily, Chatara found his way through the Pakistan attack as he found a way of dealing with Saeed Ajmal and Junaid as both Chatara and Vitori also managed to pick a couple of fours apiece.
Not only did he survive an early scare and pick a couple of fours but Chatara also was fortunate to escape a number for lbw appeals against him and it had to take Abdur Rehman to break the partnership and end Zimbabwe’s innings in the 20th over of the day.
Rehman trapped Chatara lbw on 21.
Despite being run out Manzoor said his teammates believe he has done well.
“As per Younis and Misbah’s advice I had a more positive innings. I could have done better in the first innings (yesterday). It is a two-innings match and there is another opportunity for me. I did not do well in the first innings and I hope I will do better in our second innings,” said Manzoor.
l Pakistan 163 for 3 (Younis 52*, Manzoor 51) trail Zimbabwe 294 (Masakadza 75, Taylor 51, Junaid 4-67) by 131 runs.
Online Reporter