Pakistan lead by 90 thanks to Younis

News

Cricket365
September 5, 2013

Pakistan reached stumps on day three of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare holding a lead of 90 runs, making 168 for four after a century stand between Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan denied the hosts further early wickets.

Zimbabwe were all out for 327 before lunch, leaving Pakistan with a deficit of 78 runs as spinner Saeed Ajmal took seven wickets. The visitors then lost three quick wickets, before the veteran batsmen mounted a 116-run recovery.

Zimbabwe started the day on 281 for seven, a lead of 32, and Ajmal had four of those wickets. Elton Chigumbura was on 40 at the start, and he went on to make 69 before being dismissed by the spinner.

Shingi Masakadza, who was with Chigumbura at the start of play, was the first wicket to fall, having made 14 before finding himself trapped LBW by Ajmal. Chigumbura and Tendai Chatara were the final wickets to fall, with consecutive deliveries.

Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start as they were unable to reach the lunch break without loss. Khurram Manzoor, who only made 11 in the first innings, was out for just five, trapped LBW by paceman Tinashe Panyangara.

The afternoon session was better for the visitors, but not before they saw two more wickets fall for less than 30 runs. Panyangara struck soon after the restart, also trapping Azhar Ali in front, for a duck.

Mohammad Hafeez was next to fall, this time to paceman Chatara, as he popped the ball to Tino Mawoyo at mid-wicket, adding just 16 runs to the five he made in the first innings.

This left Misbah and Younis to mount a comeback, and they batted solidly for the rest of the session and reduced the lead to dust just before tea. At that break, they had put on 64 runs together.

The evening session went at snail's pace as both batsmen knuckled down on their way to half centuries. They pushed the score to 139, batting together for nearly 50 overs before Misbah was dismissed for 52.

After the skipper's shock departure, a quick break in concentration seeing him fall to Shingi Masakadza, Younis (76 not out) and Asad Shafiq (15 not out) saw out the extended evening session, with the hosts risking a fine for a slow over rate.