Tail helps Pakistan build lead
Lunch Pakistan 460 for 8 (Ajmal 24*, Junaid 4*, Lamb 3-120) lead Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4-79, Ajmal 4-143) by 48 runs
Pakistan added 103 runs in 32.5 overs before lunch, a marginal improvement on their scoring-rate through day three, but not enough to significantly increase the chances of a result at Bulawayo. Younis Khan perished 12 short of his 18th Test ton, while Adnan Akmal and Saeed Ajmal chipped in to give Pakistan the first-innings lead. Zimbabwe, with the notable exception of Ray Price, aided Pakistan's progress by bowling without much purpose and putting down the sixth catch of the innings.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 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. 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 Akmal glanced, drove and steered him for boundaries. Soon after, 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, 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. Vusi Sibanda then fluffed his second sitter of the match, 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, their innings still two wickets from completion. With only five sessions left in the match, it will take a lot of intent from one of the two sides to force a result, and on evidence of the action so far, neither looks to be in any real hurry.
Published by Unknown
on 03:33.
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