Pakistan spin into contention

 

Wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu and Kyle Jarvis put on an unbeaten 66-run partnership for the ninth wicket but Pakistan were still on the verge of victory in the one-off Test at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

Taibu was 58 not out, ably supported by Jarvis, as the pair helped Zimbabwe survive the final session after Pakistan bowlers had reduced the hosts to 69 for eight in their second-innings and were looking to wrap up the match on the fourth day.

While Taibu and Jarvis helped prolong the match, Zimbabe were still reeling at 135 for eight, a slim lead of 81, after Pakistan were earlier bowled out for 466.

The collapse

The Zimbabweans had more than held their own over the first three days but it seemed to have taken its toll as their top-order batsmen surrendered their wickets all too easily with captain Brendan Taylor out for five for his sixth successive failure.

Tinotenda Mawoyo was the only one to even reach double figures as he went for 12, but that was as good as it got.

Saeed Ajmal and Aizaz Cheema took two wickets apiece while Mohammad Hafeez delivered a heavy blow to the hosts when he trapped Craig Ervine leg before shortly before the interval.

Ajmal finished the day with two for 53 while Hafeez, who had taken just 14 wickets in 17 Tests before this match, followed up his career-best knock with figures of four for 31.

Pakistan batsmen do well

Earlier, the Pakistan batsmen had thrown caution to the wind as they upped the scoring rate to go into lunch on 460 for eight.

Beginning the fourth day on 357 for 5 and looking for a big lead to put Zimbabwe under pressure, Pakistan lost three wickets, including the pivotal wicket of Younus Khan, who only added 27 to his overnight score of 61.

He was caught somewhat fortuitously at first slip by Taylor off veteran spinner Raymond Price, the ball first bouncing off Taibu’s pad.

Sohail Khan was caught by Lamb on the mid-wicket boundary off Christopher Mpofu for 11.

Sohail had been dropped at gully by Hamilton Masakadza just beforehand – the sixth spilling of the innings – and he punished Masakadza by hitting the next ball for a six.

Ajmal spent the last three overs of the morning scoring quick runs but was eventually out for 28 after lunch, bowled by the dependable Price.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th,  2011.