Vitori takes five as Zimbabwe lead against Pakistan

HARARE: Left-arm fast bowler Brian Vitori took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket on Thursday, as Zimbabwe secured a 64-run first innings lead over Pakistan on the third day of the second Test at Harare Sports Club.

Vitori took five for 61 as Pakistan collapsed to 230 all out, losing their last six wickets for 19 runs.

Zimbabwe were 30 for one in their second innings at tea, an overall lead of 94.

Pakistan were well-placed to overhaul Zimbabwe's total of 294 until Asad Shafiq was fifth man out shortly before lunch, bowled by Tendai Chatara with the total on 211.

The match swung dramatically in Zimbabwe's favour after lunch when Younis Khan, the mainstay of their innings, clipped Tinashe Panyangara to mid-wicket after making a patient 77 off 223 balls with nine fours.

Abdur Rehman was leg before wicket to Panyangara off the next ball and Vitori ripped out the last three batsmen to give Zimbabwe an important lead on a cracked pitch on which batsmen have struggled to score freely.

Only 48 runs were scored in 28 overs during the morning's play for the loss of two wickets, while six further wickets fell while 49 runs were scored in 22.5 overs between lunch and tea.

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq made a laboured 33 off 120 balls before he fell victim to the second delivery with the second new ball shortly before the morning drinks break, caught at first slip off Vitori, pushing at a wide ball slanted away from him.

Shafiq was bowled by Chatara for 10 in what was virtually an action replay of his dismissal in the second innings of the first Test, not getting forward to a fairly full delivery which swung in.

Stand-in opening batsman Prosper Utseya was caught at midwicket off Rahat Ali for five when Zimbabwe batted again. Regular opener Vusi Sibanda was ill.

Zimbabwe also found run-scoring difficult at the start of their second innings. Of their 30 runs scored in 14 overs before tea, five came from a wide bowled by Junaid Khan which went to the boundary, while eight of Tina Mawoyo's 15 runs came from edged boundaries off Rahat.