Pakistan ride on Younis half-century

Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Bulawayo

Pakistan played with fire and fury at the start of their innings to reach the halfway stage with a sizeable total in sight. Younis Khan led the charge with an uncharacteristically feisty knock on a flat and dry pitch that was expected to offer something for the spinners but give the pacemen a tough workout.

Chris Mpofu had to operate as Zimbabwe's solitary frontline seamer, with the hosts going in with four spinners. Ray Price, who opened the bowling was economical, Prosper Utseya claimed the important wicket of Mohammad Hafeez but Greg Lamb was expensive and Malcolm Waller was yet to bowl. It was left to Zimbabwe's medium-pacers, Elton Chigumbura and Hamilton Masakadza to rein in the charge.

Mpofu bowled an impeccable line in his first over and was rewarded in his second when Imran Farhat, perhaps a little jittery on his international return, was caught behind. Farhat tried to cut a short, but not wide enough ball and got an edge through to Tatenda Taibu. The early setback did little to harm Pakistan as Younis Khan took control. He appeared to have switched roles with Mohammad Hafeez after their performance in the Test match, with Younis the aggressor and Hafeez playing watchfully. Mpofu was unable to maintain his control and Younis drove him sublimely down the ground and then scored three boundaries on the leg side off his bowling.

Price held up his end well and tied Hafeez up. As a result Hafeez's first boundary came only when the change bowlers, spinners Greg Lamb and Prosper Utseya, were brought on. Utseya eventually bore the full brunt of Hafeez's frustration, conceding a smashing six over long-off and a lofted drive for four. Then, he got the reward. Hafeez swept in the air and Vusi Sibanda at square leg took the catch.

Misbah-ul-Haq arrived with intent written all over him as he reverse-swept Lamb for four off the third ball he faced. Lamb continued to be expensive and bowled long hops to Younis, who pulled gleefully. With the run-rate threatening to balloon out of control, Brendan Taylor made another double change and brought on Chigumbura and Masakadza and spread the field. The two bowled a good length, with Chigumbura getting the ball to straighten and almost trapping Younis lbw, but umpire Gould ruled it not out.

Younis was run out five balls later after hesitating when turning for a second run. Waller at deep midwicket flung in a flat throw to find Younis short of his ground, despite the dive.

Published by Unknown on 03:35. Filed under Breaking News, Feature, Pakistan, Zimbabwe . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0