MUTARE: Seven wickets among right-arm pacers Mohammad Ali and Aamir Jamal helped Pakistan Shaheens bundle out Zimbabwe A for a paltry 163 on the first day of the second four-day match at Mutare Sports Club on Wednesday.

In turn, at stumps, Pakistan Shaheens were 115-1 in 24 overs and were trailing by 48 runs with nine wickets in hand. Captain Imran Butt returned to the pavilion after adding 63 runs for the opening wicket with Mohammad Huraira (60 not out) before the latter and Omair Bin Yousuf returned undefeated as they added an unbroken 52 runs for the second wicket.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Zimbabwe A lost Joylord Gumbie for seven to Ali with 12 runs on the board. After the departure of Gumbie, opening batter Tadiwanashe Marumani was joined by Dion Myers and the pair knitted 110 runs for the second wicket.

Myers (50 off 108), after scoring his fifth first-class half-century, was next to return back to the hut. He was bowled by left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz.

At the score of 130, Marumani (66 off 100) was caught by wicket-keeper Haseebullah off Aamir, both playing their first match on the tour.

Following the departure of two set batters, Zimbabwe A were unable to recover and the pace bowling duo of Aamir and Ali were all over the opposition, bowling them out for 163 in 56.4 overs.

Ali returned with figures of 4-36 in 14.4 overs, while Aamir and Mehran snapped three wickets each.

Scores in brief:

ZIMBABWE A 163 in 56.4 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 66, Dion Myers 50; Mohammad Ali 4-36, Mehran Mumtaz 3-36, Aamir Jamal 3-51); PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 115-1 in 24 overs (Mohammad Huraira 60 not out, Imran Butt 27, Omair Bin Yousuf 19 not out).

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2023