1st Test: Zimbabwe stumble after century stand
Home side scores 237-8 on first day as late flurry of wickets gives Pakistan the edge .
Despite an impressive partnership between Masakadza and Taylor, Zimbabwe lost wickets in quick succession to put Pakistan in command at the end of the first day. PHOTO: AFP
HARARE:
Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor shared a century partnership before Zimbabwe suffered a collapse on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Zimbabwe finished the first day’s play at 237 for the loss of eight wickets.
Masakadza (75) and Taylor (51) put on 110 for the third wicket but the rest of the batting crumbled on a pitch which had cracks that caused several deliveries to keep low.
The two senior batsmen offered Zimbabwe hope of an impressive first-innings total on a green top but the loss of five wickets after tea allowed Pakistan to gain the ascendancy.
Masakadza’s dismissal, caught at slip off a Saeed Ajmal ‘doosra’, was the first of six wickets that fell for 94 runs before the close of play.
Masakadza and Taylor came together after Zimbabwe lost their first two wickets for 31 runs.
The home side lost opener Tino Mawoyo to the second ball of the day but steadied their innings to go to lunch on 65 for two. They later looked to be setting up an impressive score as they were 165 for three at tea after scoring 100 runs in the middle session.
Mawoyo was caught behind off the impressive Junaid Khan without scoring after Taylor won the toss and decided to bat.
Vusi Sibanda battled to 14 off 44 balls before dragging an attempted pull against Rahat Ali onto his stumps.
Masakadza, who captained the team in the first Test when Taylor withdrew because of the birth of his first child, batted solidly as he reached a half-century off 98 balls, taking advantage of any loose deliveries on offer. He smashed one six and hit eight boundaries in his gutsy innings.
Taylor, by contrast, looked out of touch early in his innings and was given a torrid time by left-arm pace bowler Junaid. He scored only seven runs as the partnership became worth 50.
Taylor reached his half-century off a risky shot that Rahat Ali let slip through his hands in what looked a routine catch but departed soon after for 51, trapped leg before to spinner Abdur Rehman. He faced 128 balls and hit six fours.
Junaid was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers and was unlucky not to have a better return than his three for 55. Fellow left-arm opening bowler Rahat Ali took two for 48 and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman two for 37.
One of Rehman’s victims was Elton Chigumbura, who was bowled by a delivery which barely rose off the turf after hitting a crack.
Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs. With the second and final match of the series being played at the same venue as part of a cost-cutting exercise by Zimbabwe Cricket, there was concern that pitch preparation might have been affected.
There were only two non-playing days between the Tests, and Taylor said at the toss that he did not want to bat last after having had a look at the pitch.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2013.
Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor shared a century partnership before Zimbabwe suffered a collapse on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Zimbabwe finished the first day’s play at 237 for the loss of eight wickets.
Masakadza (75) and Taylor (51) put on 110 for the third wicket but the rest of the batting crumbled on a pitch which had cracks that caused several deliveries to keep low.
The two senior batsmen offered Zimbabwe hope of an impressive first-innings total on a green top but the loss of five wickets after tea allowed Pakistan to gain the ascendancy.
Masakadza’s dismissal, caught at slip off a Saeed Ajmal ‘doosra’, was the first of six wickets that fell for 94 runs before the close of play.
Masakadza and Taylor came together after Zimbabwe lost their first two wickets for 31 runs.
The home side lost opener Tino Mawoyo to the second ball of the day but steadied their innings to go to lunch on 65 for two. They later looked to be setting up an impressive score as they were 165 for three at tea after scoring 100 runs in the middle session.
Mawoyo was caught behind off the impressive Junaid Khan without scoring after Taylor won the toss and decided to bat.
Vusi Sibanda battled to 14 off 44 balls before dragging an attempted pull against Rahat Ali onto his stumps.
Masakadza, who captained the team in the first Test when Taylor withdrew because of the birth of his first child, batted solidly as he reached a half-century off 98 balls, taking advantage of any loose deliveries on offer. He smashed one six and hit eight boundaries in his gutsy innings.
Taylor, by contrast, looked out of touch early in his innings and was given a torrid time by left-arm pace bowler Junaid. He scored only seven runs as the partnership became worth 50.
Taylor reached his half-century off a risky shot that Rahat Ali let slip through his hands in what looked a routine catch but departed soon after for 51, trapped leg before to spinner Abdur Rehman. He faced 128 balls and hit six fours.
Junaid was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers and was unlucky not to have a better return than his three for 55. Fellow left-arm opening bowler Rahat Ali took two for 48 and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman two for 37.
One of Rehman’s victims was Elton Chigumbura, who was bowled by a delivery which barely rose off the turf after hitting a crack.
Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs. With the second and final match of the series being played at the same venue as part of a cost-cutting exercise by Zimbabwe Cricket, there was concern that pitch preparation might have been affected.
There were only two non-playing days between the Tests, and Taylor said at the toss that he did not want to bat last after having had a look at the pitch.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2013.