KARACHI, May 9: Pakistan ‘A’ survived a big scare before winning the unofficial Test against their Zimbabwean counterparts by a narrow margin of three wickets at the Country Club ground in Harare on Monday. The tourists, resuming at 134 for seven in pursuit of a modest target of 157, eventually got home without further loss thanks to a composed knock by tailender Mohammad Asif on the fourth and final day.

Asif, batting at No 9, remained unbeaten with 22 as he and Mansoor Amjad (7) carried the score from 133 to 160, bringing a huge sigh of relief in the Pakistan camp. At one stage on Sunday, Pakistan ‘A’ were cruising to a comprehensive victory at 106 for one with Ashar Zaidi (43 off 64 balls, seven fours) and Faisal Athar (46 off 50 balls, six fours) going great guns in a second-wicket partnership of 73.

But once both fell to leg-spin of 18-year-old Graeme Cremer, the rot set in. Tawanda Mupariwa, the 20-year-old pace bowler, sent back Hasan Raza, the first innings century-maker, Faisal Iqbal and Zulqarnain Haider in quick successions to bring the game alive.

However, Asif, who struck two boundaries in his 30-ball innings, kept the Zimbabwe ‘A’ bowlers at bay until the match ended.