2nd Test: Misbah holds ground as Pakistan fumble

Captain steadies ship as tourists end day four on 158 for five.

HARARE:

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq stood firm as his side lost five wickets chasing victory on the fourth day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Set 264 to win, Pakistan were 158 for five at the close of play, setting up a tense last day with Zimbabwe having a realistic chance of sharing the series and earning a rare victory against one of cricket’s major nations.

Misbah was unbeaten on 26 and will resume batting today with wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal (17 not out), with Pakistan needing another 106 runs to win.

Pakistan made an aggressive start to the chase after bowling out Zimbabwe for 199, breaking a trend of slow scoring on a wearing, cracked pitch. But they were forced to become more cautious as the Zimbabwe bowlers struck at regular intervals.

First-change bowler Tendai Chatara made a crucial breakthrough when he dismissed Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali in quick succession to reduce Pakistan to 46 for two in the 12th over.

While Hafeez continues to falter, opening batsman Manzoor Ahmed stroked his way to his second half-century of the match, hitting 11 fours in an innings of 54 before he was caught at short leg off  Prosper Utseya’s delivery.

That brought Misbah in to join fellow veteran Younus Khan but Pakistan suffered a huge blow when Younus was bowled for 29, shaping to play left-armer Brian Vitori to leg and losing his leg stump.

Misbah might have given a difficult chance when he was on 14, with wicket-keeper Richmond Mutumbami diving far to his right but unable to hold on to a low deflection.

But Mutumbami made no mistake when Asad Shafiq tried to cut Utseya and top-edged the ball into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

Chatara finished the day with two for 29 from 13 overs, while Utseya had two for 40 from 13 overs.

Earlier, left-arm opening bowler Rahat Ali took five for 52 as Zimbabwe were bowled out after adding only 78 runs to their overnight 121 for four.

Rahat made the first breakthrough of the day when he had Vusi Sibanda caught behind for 10 and he followed up with the key wicket of Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, who made 27 off 83 balls, as well as tail-ender Chatara.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets and left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan one as Pakistan kept the Zimbabwe batsmen under pressure.

Pakistan won the first Test last week at the same venue by 221 runs.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.

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