Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE were left staring at yet another heavy defeat against Pakistan when woeful batting saw the home team trail by 458 runs at the end of day two of the second Test cricket contest at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Opening batsman Abid Ali top scored with an unbeaten 215 runs for Pakistan, Azhar Ali was second best with 126 while Nauman Ali fell for 97, Pakistan declaring their first innings on 510/8 in 147.1 overs.
At the close of play on day two last night, Zimbabwe were on 52/4 in 30 overs and are behind by 458 runs with six first innings wickets in hand. The match went into day two with Pakistan on 268/4 in 90.0 overs, Abid Ali on 118 and Sajid Khan with one. Pakistan added 39 runs to their overnight score before Khan fell for 20, dismissed by Donald Tiripano, the catch taken behind by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva. Hasan Ali quickly followed for an eight-ball duck to become medium pace bowler Luke Jongwe’s first wicket in Test cricket.
From there, Pakistan took charge of proceedings with an 169-run stand between Abid Ali and Nauman Ali. With a maiden Test hundred beckoning for Nauman Ali, he fell three runs short, removed by left arm spinner Tendai Chisoro who had him stumped by Chakabva.
It was at that stage that Pakistan declared their first innings to allow their bowlers to have a go at the Zimbabwean batsmen in the last session of the day.
Zimbabwe got their first innings off to a horrible start with Tarisai Musakanda gone in the second over without scoring, trapped leg before wicket by Tabish Khan. His opening partner Kevin Kasuza followed for four runs, stand-in skipper Brendan Taylor went for nine and Milton Shumba perished for two.
Chakabva was unbeaten on 28 but Zimbabwe have a lot of batting to do over the remaining three days if they are to avoid defeat. At things stand, it is all pointing to another resounding win for Pakistan. — @Mdawini_29.
Online Reporter