Pakistan need 106 to win on final day

Cricket365

Pakistan need 106 runs to win on the final day of the second Test in Harare, after reaching stumps on day four on 158 for five, chasing the 264 required for victory and a series trophy.

Pakistan need 106 runs to win on the final day of the second Test in Harare, after reaching stumps on day four on 158 for five, chasing the 264 required for victory and a series trophy.

Zimbabwe were all out for 199 in the afternoon session, with Rahat Ali taking five wickets, before the visitors lost regular wickets for the rest of the day. Misbah-ul-Haq was set on 26 at the close though, alongside Adnan Akmal (17).

The host started the day on 121 for four, with Brendan Taylor and Vusi Sibanda both on zero. Sibanda, who had not opened the batting the previous day as he was sick, could only make 10 runs before being caught behind off Ali.

Malcolm Waller and Elton Chigumbura followed in quick succession, both making just three runs, before Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan dismissed them. This left Taylor to battle along, and he reached 27 off 83 balls before Rahat sent him packing.

The only batsman to add anything else decent was Richmond Mutumbami, who made a defiant 29 off 59 balls before Ajmal added him to his records. Tendai Chatara was the final wicket to fall, giving Rahat his five.

Pakistan started poorly before tea, and were two down by the break for 55 runs. Mohammad Hafeez's poor Test run continued as he was out for 16, while Azhar Ali fell for a duck, both dismissed by Chatara.

This left opener Khurram Manzoor to steady the ship alongside Younis Khan, and the former made his second half century of the match, celebrating as though it was a century. The pair put on 44 runs together, before Manzoor was caught at short leg off Prosper Utseya for 58.

Younis and Misbah then teamed up, but they were not able to make another epic stand as Younis fell for 29, his leg stump sent flying by Brian Vitori. Asad Shafiq was the last to fall on the day, caught behind off Utseya for 14.

Pakistan will need their set batsmen to stick around on day five, because while the target isn't that big, the pitch is slowing dramatically and they are into the tail if either Misbah or Adnan fall early.