Ajmal and Rehman cap straightforward victory

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Cricket365
September 7, 2013

As expected, Zimbabwe floundered at every turn against spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, allowing Pakistan a convincing 221-run triumph on day five of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday

As expected, Zimbabwe floundered at every turn against spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, allowing Pakistan a convincing 221-run triumph on day five of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club.

Resuming on 13 for one, the hosts lost all of nine wickets for the addition of a mere 113 runs en route to a lame 120 all out shortly before lunch on Saturday. Ajmal and Rehman were entirely dominant en route to figures of four for 23 and four for 36 respectively.

All-rounder Elton Chigumbura's 28 and 24 from the Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza was as good as it got amid the capitulation. Batsmen one through three and a ducks from tail-enders Prosper Utseya and Shingi Masakadza, meanwhile, finalised the collapse.

The pitch, free of severe deterioration, didn't turn as much as anticipated. But the generous bounce produced by Ajmal and Rehman was too much for the home order to handle. Catches for the close-in fielders and the slip cordon – and lbw decisions – were plentiful.

Left-arm seamer Junaid Khan had orchestrated the initial damage, removing opner Vusi Sibanda and skipper Hamilton Masakadza inside Saturday's opening throes. The remainder never promised a fightback, bar wicketkeeper-batsman Richmond Mutumbami, who was consoled by a defiant 16 not out.

Batsman Younis Khan was named Man of the Match for a fine 200 not out completed shortly before the declaration on Saturday – and was arguably fortunate to receive the accolade ahead of Ajmal, whose match figures read 11 for 118. The second and final Teset will get underway at the same venue on Tuesday.