Younus reached 50 for the 49th time in Test cricket and became the fourth Pakistan batsman to reach 7000 runs in Tests. PHOTO: AFP
HARARE:
Younus Khan carried on from where he left off in the first Test as he played another solid innings for Pakistan on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Younus followed up a match-winning double century in the first Test with an unbeaten 52 as Pakistan reached 163 for three at the close of play in reply to Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 294.
When he reached 50 for the 49th time in Test cricket Younus became the fourth Pakistan batsman to reach 7,000 runs in Tests.
Batsmen of both sides played cautiously on a slow pitch. Only five wickets fell in the day, while 222 runs were scored.
As in the first Test, Younus batted patiently against steady bowling. With several prominent cracks in the pitch he stretched well forward to most deliveries, with bat and pad close together to combat any unpredictable bounce.
Younus and fellow veteran Misbahul Haq will resume today, after putting on 67 for the fourth wicket. They came together soon after tea when opening batsman Khurram Manzoor was run out for 51.
Younus faced 127 balls and hit six fours, while Misbah made 27 not out off 88 deliveries.
Manzoor survived confident appeals for a catch behind and leg before wicket early in his innings.
He showed good timing as he hit nine fours in reaching his fourth Test half-century off 119 balls, but his innings came to an end when he played the ball to leg and set off for a run. He was sent back by Younus and could not beat Elton Chigumbura’s throw to wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami.
Pakistan endured a frustrating morning as their bowlers struggled to dislodge the Zimbabwe tail.
Junaid Khan took his fourth wicket of the innings when Prosper Utseya hooked a short ball to deep backward square leg after making a stubborn 22 off 82 balls. Junaid finished the innings with four for 67.
Tendai Chatara and Brian Vitori put on 46 for the last wicket before left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman ended Zimbabwe’s resistance when he trapped Chatara leg before wicket for 21. Rehman took three for 47.
Manzoor and Mohammad Hafeez put on 29 for Pakistan’s first wicket before Hafeez was caught at first slip off left-arm opening bowler Vitori for 22 - his highest score in five Test matches in 2013.
Azhar Ali made seven before he was leg before to Tinashe Panyangara.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2013.
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Keep him away from ODI games!