HARARE, Nov 5: Seven of the eight Pakistan batsmen who faced Zimbabwe ‘A’ in the first innings of their three-day tour warm-up match here scored 43 runs or better as the tourists declared at 456-6 after an hour into Tuesday’s second day.
At the close, Zimbabwe ‘A’ were 200-5 in reply as bad light stopped play, leaving them 256 behind with five wickets in hand.
The exception to the Pakistan display of sound overall batting form was Yousuf Youhana, who was out for one following a freak run out incident, a drive from batting partner Younis Khan knocking over the stumps at the other end via the bowler’s foot with Youhana stranded out of his ground.
It was doubly unfortunate for Pakistan and for Youhana because he has had little batting practice in recent months and was therefore unable to show his current capabilities to the selectors ahead of the first Test which begins here Saturday.
Otherwise it was a batting bonanza for Pakistan. Taufiq Umar, Younis, Hasan Raza, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saleem Elahi, Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal all had productive stays at the crease, the first two reaching the 80’s.
Pakistan’s plan for this tour opening match was carried through to perfection and it left them with the pleasurable problem of who to leave out for the first Test, because skipper Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq must all be brought in.
Zimbabwe ‘A’ began their efforts to save the game with a decent showing, three of their Test squad leading the way. Dion Ebrahim fell early with 14, but Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall and Gavin Rennie kept Shoaib Akhtar and colleagues at bay through much of the afternoon.
Rennie is not in the Zimbabwe squad and so he had a statement to make, but his 48 was not quite sufficient for selectors’ regrets.
Vermeulen made a sound 43 and Whittall’s 67 not out showed real mettle against the mainly pace attack. After Rennie fell to Mohammad Sami, Stewart Matsikenyeri was bowled first ball and a mighty shout went up for a hat trick lbw against Whittall. But Sami was turned down.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN (1st Innings, overnight 352-5):
Saleem Elahi c Vermuelin b Manhire 49
Taufiq Umar c Taibu b Sims 86
Younis Khan c Nkala b Macmillan 84
Inzamam-ul-Haq b Mahwire 63
Yousuf Youhana run out 1
Hasan Raza not out 64
Shahid Afridi c Rennie b Macmillan 49
Kamral Akmal not out 43
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2, W-1, NB-13) 17
TOTAL (for six decl, 102 overs) 456
FALL OF WKTS: 1-127, 2-161, 3-272, 4-273, 5-312, 6-396.
DID NOT BAT: Shoab Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Zahid.
BOWLING: Nkala 15-8-34-0; Macmillan 24-5-134-2; Mahwire 22-5-74-2; Ervine 22-1-134-0; Whittall 4-2-2-0; Sims 15-3-75-1.
ZIMBABWE ‘A’ (1st Innings):
D.D. Ebrahim lbw b Shahid 14
M. Vermeulin c Younis b Zahid 43
G.J. Rennie c Younis b Sami 48
G.J. Whittall not out 67
S. Matsikenyeri b Sami 0
T. Taibu c Kamran b Sami 6
S. Ervine not out 1
EXTRAS (B-8, LB-8, NB-5) 21
TOTAL (for five wkts, 63.2 overs) 200
FALL OF WKTS: 1-54, 2-72, 3-171, 4-171, 5-183.
TO BAT: M.L. Nkala, R. Sims, C. Macmillan, G. Ewing.
BOWLING (to-date): Shoaib Akhtar 12-5-19-0; Mohammad Zahid 9.2-2-36-1; Shahid Afridi 21-4-73-1; Mohammad Sami 14-4-39-3; Younis Khan 7-2-17-0.
UMPIRES: D. Kalam and C. Nyazika.—AFP