Pakistan's last five wickets added 109 runs in 36 overs, a marginal improvement on the scoring-rate managed by 

their top five, but not enough to significantly increase the chances of a result in Bulawayo. Younis Khan perished 12 short of his 18th Test ton, while Adnan Akmal and Saeed Ajmal chipped in to give Pakistan a 54-run lead. Zimbabwe, with the notable exception of Ray Price, aided Pakistan's progress by bowling without much purpose, while their catching continued to remain atrocious.

With the wicket showing signs of breaking up under the Bulawayo sun, Price emerged as Zimbabwe's best bet. Bowling over the wicket, he homed in on the rough created at the Airport End, a move encouraged by Younis' reluctance to pad away balls pitching outside leg. Price quickly got into the groove, ripping the ball out of the footmarks past uncertain prods from Younis and Adnan Akmal.

Younis responded with a surprising moment of aggression, charging out of the crease and launching Price over long-on. After that, he reverted to stout defence from the crease, leaving run-scoring duties to his partner. Adnan Akmal pulled out the reverse-sweep, a dangerous option against Price's spin out of the rough, and was constantly on the lookout for the extra run. Kyle Jarvis' introduction in the 136th over of the innings hurried Pakistan into the lead, as Adnan Akmal glanced, drove and steered him for boundaries. Soon after, Adnan Akmal's enthusiasm got the better of him as he ran himself out.

After 44 overs of supreme discipline, 23 of them maidens, Price finally struck. He found a way past Younis on 88, getting him to edge an over-pitched ball into Tatenda Taibu's pad, for Brendan Taylor to take the rebound. Pakistan's lead was only 12 at that point, and Zimbabwe deployed Brian Vitori in an attempt to blast the tail out.

Vitori's wide of the crease angle from round the stumps did not worry the tail-enders initially, though, and Ajmal gradually grew in confidence. He slashed Vitori through point, and even summoned the skill to loft Price for six over long-on. Hamilton Masakadza then fluffed a sitter at gully, and Sohail Khan celebrated by biffing the next ball for six. He perished later in the same over, minutes before Pakistan went to lunch, and Chris Mpofu removed Junaid Khan after the break with a sharp short ball. Price ended the innings soon after by castling Ajmal. With a little under five sessions left, the impact of Ajmal's doosras could be the single biggest factor on the course of the match.