Seven-wicket win for Pakistan

News

Cricket365
September 5, 2011

Pakistan wrapped up a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their one-off Test before lunch on day five, leaving the hosts to lament a second-innings batting collapse.

The match had been heading for a draw when Zimbabwe took to the crease after lunch on day four, but they lost half their wickets before they could wipe out a 54-run first-innings deficit and were eventually bowled out for 141 early on the fifth morning.

Birthday boy Aizaz Cheema needed just two overs to finish off the Zimbabwean innings and leave Pakistan needing just 88 runs for victory, with Cheema enjoying an eight-wicket haul on debut.

Tatenda Taibu and Kyle Jarvis had batted manfully on the fourth evening to keep Zimbabwe's hopes of avoiding defeat alive, but Taibu fell tamely to the final delivery of Monday's opening over when he offered a simple catch to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal to depart for his overnight score of 58.

Cheema completed his second four-wicket haul for the match in his next over when he had last man Chris Mpofu caught behind, leaving Pakistan with a straightforward task.

Although they lost wickets in their bid to finish the match before lunch, with Ray Price picking up a couple of scalps, Misbah-ul-Haq hit the winning runs with ten minutes left in the session.

Some clever seam bowling from Kyle Jarvis found the edge of Taufeeq Umar's bat when Pakistan had just 19 on the board, before Umar's fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez dragged a Price delivery onto his stumps.

Hafeez had hammered seven boundaries for his 38, which left just 39 runs required. Azhar Ali was eager to afford his side an afternoon off and began to hit out in a style that does not come naturally to the stodgy number three, and he was out for 22 after slogging Price straight up in the air.

However Misbah sealed the deal when he drove Price over mid-off for four to ensure that Pakistan claimed a comfortable victory.

In an inversion of the way they played the game a decade ago, Zimbabwe were left to reflect on some poor fielding, with seven dropped catches in Pakistan's first innings ultimately inducing pressure which their batsmen were unable to withstand.