Zimbabwe v Pakistan 2nd Test Day 2: Pakistan turn the heat up on Zimbabwe

Pakistan turned the heat up on Zimbabwe on day two of the 2^nd Test , at the Harare Sports, Harare. Mainly thanks to a determined double hundred from Adid Ali (214*) and Nauman Ali 97, they posted a formidable 510/8 dec, in their 1^st Innings.

 

Match Summary

Pakistan 510/8 dec (147.1ov)

Zimbabwe 52/4 (30 ov)

Close of Play Day 2: Zimbabwe trail Pakistan by 458 runs

Scorecard

Stumps in Harare!

Pakistan have reduced Zimbabwe to 52/4 at the end of day two.

The hosts trail by 458 runs.

?? @ZimCricketv | #ZIMvPAK | https://t.co/8hH4EN8YYI pic.twitter.com/Hfx1ilfRrv

— ICC (@ICC) May 8, 2021

Match Report - Salim Parvez - Pakistan in the driving seat

 

This second Test match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at Harare Sports Club, one feels can only have one winner and that is the touring team. Boosted by a maiden double hundred by Abid Ali, Pakistan have the opposition trailing by 458 runs, at close of play on the second day.

Earlier Zimbabwe, keen to make early inroads were frustrated by the night watchman – Sajid Ali, who missed early on, not only scored 20 but during his stay of 15.1 overs, the second new ball lost some of its gloss. The slow nature of the surface and the determination of opening batsman Abid equated to another day of hard toil. Pakistan were batting at the rate which suggested there were only looking to bat once in this Test, before a rush of blood cost Mohammad Riwan, his wicket when he miss drove to mid-on, followed by Hasan Ali’s over-ambitious slash.  Lunch was taken when Pakistan had moved to 353-7 and Abid playing the anchor’s role to near perfection, walking out with 151 to his credit and now having batted four full sessions.

The middle session further cemented Pakistan’s grip in this game when Abid found Nauman Ali, a partner who supported him brilliantly. Coming in at number nine, Nauman after seeing Abid reach his double hundred – the first ever by a Pakistani opener in Zimbabwe – with a pulled four to wide mid-wicket off 393 balls - showed his willingness to take full toll of a tired attack. With a possible declaration on his mind, he upped a gear and produced a series of strokes to outscore his partner. So much so that by the break, with 93 to his name, the declaration was delayed for him to reach a milestone. It is to be said Nauman did not play for personal glory but it just so happened that having smashed the Zimbabwe bowling to all parts of the park, he was only seven short of a hundred and deserved to be given opportunity to do so.

Pakistan scored 152 runs in the 29 overs bowled in the session and 98 in the last hour to go into the tea break at 505-7. 150 runs for the 8^th wicket stand had come off 186 balls and Nauman proving himself to be more than a useful tail-ender, with a pull off Muzarabani , the best of his five hits over the ropes.

It was a heart-breaking moment when he was stumped off a wide delivery off left-arm spin of Chisoro. Having reached 97 with a four off the first ball after tea and trying to recompose himself after trying to reach a wide delivery, had his back foot in the air for a second, enough for wicket-keeper Chakabva to take off the bails. Pakistan captain called the players off straight after his dismissal on 510-8.

Nauman’s innings came off 104 balls, featuring 9 fours and 5 sixes. Abid Ali remained unbeaten on 215, having batted over 10 hours, faced 407 balls (290 dots) and hit 29 fours. A monumental innings to cherish for the rest of his life which after 169-run stand for the 8^th wicket, has given his side a great chance to dominate the Test match.  

With 137 first-class games under his belt, Tabish Khan at 36 finally got the chance to bowl at the highest level. Given the new ball from the City End, he trapped Tarisai Musakanda leg-before off his sixth ball. Certainly an emotional moment for the Karachi-born right-arm fast-medium bowler, who lost his father in June 2019. His first spell was 1-13 off six overs. Zimbabwe lost their third wicket at 40, when their skipper Brendan Taylor was caught at the wicket off Shaheen Afridi. All three Pakistan pacemen now had taken a wicket apiece and the home side were crumbling against pressure of a massive first innings total.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, too claimed his first Test wicket, when he came on to bowl the 25^th over. Zimbabwe 52-4 at close of play, face an uphill battle, going into the third day.  

 

Match Day Highlights

Pakistan declared on 510/8 from their overnight score of 268/4. Adid Ali 214* and Nauman Ali 97 were the stars with the bat and Blessing Muzarabani 3-82 the top wicket taker for Zimbabwe in the 1st Innings.

 

Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Imran Butt - 7.3 ov), 2-248 (Azhar Ali - 82.3 ov), 3-252 (Babar Azam - 84.3 ov), 4-264 (Fawad Alam - 86.5 ov), 5-303 (Sajid Khan - 101.6 ov), 6-340 (Mohammad Rizwan - 112.3 ov), 7-341 (Hasan Ali - 113.6 ov), 8-510 (Nauman Ali - 147.2 ov)

 

In reply, Zimbabwe were 52-4 at the close of play, trailing Pakistan by 458 runs.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tarisai Musakanda - 1.6 ov), 2-23 (Kevin Kasuza - 12.5 ov), 3-40 (Brendan Taylor - 17.5 ov), 4-47 (Milton Shumba - 24.5 ov)

 

Playing XIs

 

Zimbabwe - Kevin Kasuza, Tarisai Musakanda, Regis Chakabva(wk), Brendan Taylor(c), Milton Shumba, Roy Kaia, Tendai Chisoro, Luke Jongwe, Donald Tiripano, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava

 

Pakistan - Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam(c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Hassan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Tabish Khan, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan

 

Match Details

Start Time: 08:30

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare

Officials: Langton Rusere, Marais Erasmus, Iknow Chabi, Forster Mutizwa, Andrew Pycroft

 

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