Waller, Raza put Zimbabwe in lead
Ajmal takes four to help Pakistan from falling too far behind on day two of first Test.
A 127-run partnership between Malcolm Waller and debutant Sikandar Raza helped Zimbabwe to a slender 32-run lead over Pakistan at the end of the second day of the first Test. PHOTO: AFP
HARARE:
Half-centuries by Malcolm Waller and Sikandar Raza enabled Zimbabwe to take a first-innings lead on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Zimbabwe were 281 for seven at the close, a lead of 32 runs.
Waller changed the tempo of the match with an aggressive 70, while Pakistan-born Raza made 60 on his Test debut. The pair added 127 for the fourth wicket. They came together after Zimbabwe lost two wickets off successive balls.
With only one run added to the lunch score of 67 for one, Vusi Sibanda was caught behind for 31 off the last ball of an over from Junaid Khan. Captain Hamilton Masakadza was deceived by a Saeed Ajmal doosra and bowled for 19 by the first ball of the next over.
Waller hit a boundary off the first ball he faced from Ajmal and continued to go for his shots as he reached his third Test half-century off 63 balls with 11 fours.
Raza started his innings cautiously and contributed only 11 in the first 50 runs of the partnership, although he picked up the pace either side of tea, reaching his fifty off 98 balls.
Ajmal, Pakistan’s most successful bowler with four for 74, had Waller caught at slip after an innings which lasted 100 balls and included 14 boundaries. Raza also fell to the off-spinner, mistiming an attempted lofted drive to be caught at midwicket. He batted for 118 balls and hit ten fours.
Elton Chigumbura (40 not out) and Prosper Utseya (16) took Zimbabwe into the lead with a seventh wicket partnership of 43 before the latter was bowled by Rahat Ali.
It took Zimbabwe just two balls to wrap up the Pakistan innings at the start of play, with the tourists losing their last wicket without adding a run to their 249 for nine.
Ajmal was bowled by the first ball he faced from Tendai Chatara on his overnight score of 49, one short of what would have been his second Test half-century.
Tina Mawoyo and Sibanda put on 25 for Zimbabwe’s first wicket. After Junaid switched to around the wicket, the change of angle brought immediate success as Mawoyo nudged tentatively at the first delivery of the new over and was caught behind by Adnan Akmal for 13.
Cash-strapped Zimbabwe move Test venue
Zimbabwe have moved the venue of next week’s second Test against Pakistan from Bulawayo to Harare for logistical reasons and to save costs, announced the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The Test will still be played from Sept 10-14.
Savings of some $75,000 will be made by playing the Test at the Harare Sports Club, where the first test of the series is currently underway, said officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2013.
Half-centuries by Malcolm Waller and Sikandar Raza enabled Zimbabwe to take a first-innings lead on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Zimbabwe were 281 for seven at the close, a lead of 32 runs.
Waller changed the tempo of the match with an aggressive 70, while Pakistan-born Raza made 60 on his Test debut. The pair added 127 for the fourth wicket. They came together after Zimbabwe lost two wickets off successive balls.
With only one run added to the lunch score of 67 for one, Vusi Sibanda was caught behind for 31 off the last ball of an over from Junaid Khan. Captain Hamilton Masakadza was deceived by a Saeed Ajmal doosra and bowled for 19 by the first ball of the next over.
Waller hit a boundary off the first ball he faced from Ajmal and continued to go for his shots as he reached his third Test half-century off 63 balls with 11 fours.
Raza started his innings cautiously and contributed only 11 in the first 50 runs of the partnership, although he picked up the pace either side of tea, reaching his fifty off 98 balls.
Ajmal, Pakistan’s most successful bowler with four for 74, had Waller caught at slip after an innings which lasted 100 balls and included 14 boundaries. Raza also fell to the off-spinner, mistiming an attempted lofted drive to be caught at midwicket. He batted for 118 balls and hit ten fours.
Elton Chigumbura (40 not out) and Prosper Utseya (16) took Zimbabwe into the lead with a seventh wicket partnership of 43 before the latter was bowled by Rahat Ali.
It took Zimbabwe just two balls to wrap up the Pakistan innings at the start of play, with the tourists losing their last wicket without adding a run to their 249 for nine.
Ajmal was bowled by the first ball he faced from Tendai Chatara on his overnight score of 49, one short of what would have been his second Test half-century.
Tina Mawoyo and Sibanda put on 25 for Zimbabwe’s first wicket. After Junaid switched to around the wicket, the change of angle brought immediate success as Mawoyo nudged tentatively at the first delivery of the new over and was caught behind by Adnan Akmal for 13.
Cash-strapped Zimbabwe move Test venue
Zimbabwe have moved the venue of next week’s second Test against Pakistan from Bulawayo to Harare for logistical reasons and to save costs, announced the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The Test will still be played from Sept 10-14.
Savings of some $75,000 will be made by playing the Test at the Harare Sports Club, where the first test of the series is currently underway, said officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2013.