BULAWAYO, March 14:

The first day's play in the first Test against Zimbabwe was marred by rains and bad light but in 54.5 overs possible Zimbabwe did manage to make 151 for 5 here on Sunday.

That was made possible with the help of a valuable 77 runs partnership between the brothers Andy Flower and Grant Flower who had come at the wicket after Zimbabwe having chosen to bat had lost three wickets for 38 runs. At the close Grant Flower with 69 patient runs was still there.

Light showers in the morning had delayed the start for nearly two and half hours and play was curtailed to 77 overs and that too was not completed. Pakistan had made three changes in the side which played in the final Test against South Africa. Wasim Akram had to withdraw because of fever. Aamir Sohail was left out with bruised wrist which hampered his batting at Port Elizabeth and Mushtaq Ahmed was also not considered as he is still recovering from flu. Instead Pakistan included Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Yousaf Youhana to strengthen the batting. And Zimbabwe offered caps to opener Dirk Viljoen and Trevor Madondo, both batsmen of considerable talent.

It was a disastrous start though for the Zimbabweans who opted to bat first under the cloud cover. Only in the third over of the day the debutante Dirk Viljoen was caught at the wicket by Rashid Latif off Waqar Younis without scoring and not much later Murray Goodwin, who did well in New Zealand was out in similar fashion off an outgoing delivery without being off the mark. The wickets had fallen at 9 and 15. Waqar Younis bowling at controlled pace swung the ball prodigiously as did his new ball partner Azhar Mahmood who was rewarded with the wicket of the Zimbabwean captain Alistair Campbell who played a reluctant and a rather careless shot off him to be caught at the wicket for 15 having put on 23 runs for the third wicket.

But Grant Flower showed his experience with a cool and calculated stay at the wicket to bat unruffled with his brother Andy Flower. The two took the partnership for the fourth wicket past 50 in 123 balls and were still together when tea was taken at 102 for 3 Andy Flower drove Saqlain Mushtaq imperiously through covers twice as the spinner wavered in flight and in direction. His brother Grant Flower too played a couple of handsome looking shore on the off side. Once he hoisted Saqlain for a huge six to long on. The two put on 77 runs for the fourth wicket when Shoaib Akhtar struck and had Andy Flower caught by Rashid Latif for 44. In 97 balls he hit eight fours and looked well set after a shaky start to play a long innings.

Not much later Grant Flower reached his fifty with the help of 4fours and a six. But minutes later saw Guy Whittall depart off a full toss of Waqar Younis for 1. Trevor Madando, a black Zibbabwean then appeared to the cheers of the a small crowd of nearly 2,000 and he was off the mark to the delight of his supporters. Of one Waqar delivery he also hit a four past him which was graciously applauded. He had made 11 and Grant Flower 69 to put on 28 runs for the sixth wicket when play had to be called off for bad light. Waqar Younis finished the with 3 for 62 and bowled superbly during the day as did Azhar Mahmood who opened the bowling. Weather conditions may interrupt the match even on the second day Zimbabwe having already lost five wickets will be under pressure to consolidate but a lot will depend on how long Grant Flower stays at the wicket and salvage the rather weak late order batting.

Day 2: Flower carries bat in Zimbabwe's 321

BULAWAYO, March 15: Helped by an unbeaten 156 by Grant Flower, Zimbabwe were able to salvage their first innings to make a respectable score of 321 and then at the close of the second day of the first Test at the Queen's Club had done well to restrict Pakistan to 77 for the loss of one wicket.

Opening the innings, Flower carried his bat through as he became the 28th man in history to do that in Tests and only the second Zimbabwean after Mark Dekker to achieve that distinction. Dekker too had done that against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 1993-94 having made an unbeaten 68. Flower's inning lasted for eight and half hours for his fifth century and the third in Tests against Pakistan.

Pakistan in reply were given a solid start of 58 for the first wicket by Saeed Anwar and Ali Naqvi before a wicket fell. Anwar who appeared to be at ease on a batting wicket was the man to be dismissed when 33. He was caught at the wicket by Andy Flower off Guy Whittall. But Ali Naqvi (24) and Ijaz (16) batted confidently on a pitch of even bounce. Zimbabwe had showed them the way through a very professional innings by Grant Flower and now it will be up to the Pakistan batsman to demonstrate that they with their experience of his game can do even better if they apply themselves to the task of a befitting reply.

Waqar Younis once again had a haul of five wicket in a Test innings and Azhar Mahmood was as much impressive with Shoaib Akhtar firing at full throttle at the other end. Rashid Latif with a haul of six victims was as much instrumental. But the wicket which had improved in character and had lost its moisture was not much of a help for the Pakistan bowlers as Flower tested their skills.

Zimbabwe resuming at their overnight 151 for 5 did well to take their first innings score to lunch at 228 for 6 having added 77 runs in the first session for the loss of only one wicket. The man to fall was the debutante Trevor Madondo who had resumed the day at 11. He could add three more runs before he was caught at first slip by Inzamam-ul-Haq off Waqar Younis. The catch coming low down and Inzamam did well to hang on to it. With Grant Flower he had added 36 runs for the sixth wicket. Grant Flower 69 overnight however remained calm and continued to bat with great deal of confidence. In the second over of he day he nearly but holed out in the second slip when he edged Azhar Mahmood and the ball fell just short of Moin Khan.

He, however, reached his fifth Test century with a single off Saqlain Mushtaq after being at the wicket for 334 minutes in which he struck nine fours and a six in 228 balls he faced. In Heath Streak he found yet another willing partner as he kept his end intact and grafted the much needed runs. The two had already added 69 runs for the seventh wicket when lunch was taken.

Streak was missed by Yousaf Youhana at square leg off Shoaib Akhtar when 25, the score then was 215 for 6. With the wicket being of even bounce, there was but little help from it but the odd ball did turn from Saqlain and with the cloud cover there was some movement off it as well. But Grant Flower and Heath Streak did bat with a lot of concentration to consolidate the innings.

After the lunch break, Pakistan did not take long to ask for the new ball which was taken at 228 in the 84th over. But runs continued to flow as Flower and Streak took their partnership past hundred runs. Streak reached his second fifty in Tests with the help of 5 fours in 135 minutes stay at the crease but when he at level to his best in Tests he was caught at backward point by Ijaz Ahmed off Azhar Mahmood for 53 but not before he had added 109 runs for the seventh wicket with Flower in a 147 minutes valuable stand.

The next man in Paul Strang was caught at slip by Inzamam for 2 off Shoaib akhtar but Grant Flower solid as ever played handsomely. He once struck Saqlain for a six at extra cover.

Later off a top edge he was dropped by Saqlain at third man off Azhar Mahmood when 146, the score then was 8 for 300. At tea he was still there with 149 having hit 13 fours and 2 sixes. With Andy Whittall he had put on 38 runs for the ninth wicket.

Day 3: Youhana hits 60 as Pakistan batsmen continue to struggle

BULAWAYO, March 16:

Pakistan batsmen continued their dismal run with the bat when they were fired out for 256 by Zimbabwe on the third day of the first Test here on Monday.

However, after conceding a 65-run first innings lead, Pakistan struck back in quick succession to leave the home team at 15 for two at stumps.

Dirk Viljoen earned his second duck of the match when he fell to Shoaib Akhtar. The pacer hit again in the final over of the day to pick the wicket of nightwatchman Andy Whittal.

On a batting wicket, Pakistan's casual and complacent approach was the cause of their demise. The story was much the same as in South Africa.

The frontline batsmen failed miserably to stabilise the innings to leave it to the tail-enders to save them from embarrassment.

But out of that grim batting display, one man who really come out good was Yousaf Youhana who batted purposefully to make 60 very valuable runs. He shared in a 61-run stand with Rashid Latif for the seventh wicket after Pakistan had lost six wickets for 144. Youhana battled bravely to occupy the wicket for nearly four hours.

Pakistan have made a positive start in the second innings and if they are able to strike with as much urgency on the fourth day, they could still come back in the game.

Earlier, Pakistan batting, as usual, was in all kinds of trouble after play resumed on the second morning with the tourists on 77 for one.

Within 25 minutes, Pakistan opener Ali Naqvi, who had started the day at 24, was back after being caught at first slip by Alistair Campbell off Pom Mbangwa. Ijaz Ahmed was next to go off Mbangwa when he shuffled back and was beaten to be caught at the wicket by Andy Flower when 23. He was surprised at the decision by umpire David Shepherd and walked away shaking his head.

Inzamamul Haq played a few elegant drives and cuts but when 24 he too lost his concentration and drove back Paul Strang who pulled off a blinder.

Moin Khan was deceived off a slower delivery by Guy Whittal and was caught at point by Andy Whittall for 12. Pakistan had started to look jittery with the dismissal of Azhar Mahmood who went without scoring when Strang trapped him in front of the wickets for 0.

Yousaf Youhana, playing only in his second Test, however, showed a lot more application and skill to survive along with his captain Rashid Latif. When lunch was taken, Pakistan were 159 for 6 and struggling to put the innings on the right footing.

The two batsmen, slowly and steadily, continued to pick runs after lunch. Light drizzle interrupted play after lunch for 25 minutes but Latif and Youhana seemed unperturbed as they went past the 50 partnership for the seventh wicket in 98 minutes.

Youhana not much later reached his first 50 after 162 minutes of defiant stay at the crease. He hit six fours and faced 116 balls.

The 61-run seventh wicket stand between the two, however, was ended by Heath Streak who, on his 24th birthday, had the wicket of Rashid Latif. Latif was leg before for 31 having batted for nearly two hours.

At tea, Pakistan were 209 for 7 with Yousaf Youhana still holding the fort.

Youhana, 54 at tea, was out after resumption to Whittall for 60. His innings, that lasted 235 minutes, was much needed in the situation that Pakistan was in. Playing forward, he missed the line as the ball went through his defences. It was a thoroughly professional knock.

At 230, Pakistan also lost Waqar Younis to Whittall who had him caught at first slip by Strang for 0 but Saqlain Mushtaq showed rare discipline take the strike and play some good looking shots. With Youhana he had added 25 runs for the eighth wicket.

Saqlain Mushtaq, whose Test best score of 79 was also made against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 1996-97, kept the innings going out to guide Pakistan as much nearer to the Zimbabwe total as possible.

He was, however, the last man out off the bowling of Strang but not before he made 34 useful runs having defied the bowlers for 124 minutes. He hit five fours and added 26 runs for the last wicket with Shoaib Akhtar.

Day 4: Pakistan in dire straits

BULAWAYO, March 17:

With the help of a century each by Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower, who shared a record unbroken stand of 277 for the fifth wicket, Zimbabwe had taken a firm hold on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan.

Having recovered from 25 for 4 they were able to declare their second innings closed at 302 for 4 to set Pakistan a formidable target of 368 to win allowing them 15 overs and a full day's play tomorrow.

Pakistan in their second innings at close of play were 24 without loss but in no way out of danger. Saeed Anwar opening the innings had to retire after being hit in the groin by a delivery off Streak Heath and the nightwatchman Saqlain Mushtaq replacing made sure that Pakistan go to bed without loss.

Injury to Waqar Younis who had broken his toe nail of the left foot, and a swollen bowling finger of Saqlain Mushtaq allowed Zimbabwe to notch up their best ever record partnership for any wicket and of course a drop catch by Inzamam-ul-Haq of Andy Flower which permitted the partnership to grow.

But that does not take away any credit from the Zimbabweans who really applied themselves to the task of getting back in the game when things had started to look grim for them. Goodwin made unbeaten 166 and Flower 100, laying the foundation for a massive lead.

For Pakistan the target on the final day will be beyond them. Recently their batsmen have not shown that kind of application to make a massive score and in the fourth innings their only option could be survival. Any attempt to try anything outlandish may land them into trouble and that is what they have to keep in mind.

Zimbabwe had a shocking start to the fourth day's play when they lost two quick wickets early in the morning as Waqar Younis struck two successive blows. Resuming at 15 for 2 from the third evening, Zimbabwe led Pakistan by 80 runs on the second innings. But only four runs were added in the morning when the centurian of the first innings Grant Flower padded one from Waqar Younis and was leg before for 6. Pakistan had struck in the third over of the day. The next to part was captain Alistair Campbell who drove lavishly on the offside and was brilliantly caught at point by Ijaz Ahmed for 5. Pakistan was back in the game as Waqar dented the batting. But Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower batted with great resilience and concentration to stay till lunch with Zimbabwe on 99 for 4. The two had put on 74 runs for the fifth wicket and a lead of 164 started to look respectable.

After lunch Goodwin reached his fourth fifty in Tests with a cut for 4 point off Azhar Mahmood. He had hit eight fours and had faced 94 balls. The two batsmen enjoyed themselves in the middle in the absence of Waqar Younis who had to limp out of attack before lunch because of a broken toe nail of his left foot. Goodwin and Flower were past the hundred partnership in 125 minutes batting and not much later Flower also got to his half century in 138 minutes of defiance in which he had struck five fours. Pakistan's one opportunity to break the partnership was spilled by Inzamam when he dropped Flower in the first slip at 57 off Shoaib Akhtar when Zimbabwe score was 164. Rashid Latif made changes in the bowling to bring in Ali Naqvi as well as Saeed Anwar to break the stand but the two batsmen continued to add to the lead which by tea had mounted to 271.

Goodwin and Flower had already shared 181 runs for the fifth wicket. Goodwin was two short of his first Test hundred and Flower had made 77.

Goodwin reached his maiden Test century after resumption having hit a four at 99 off Saqlain to long leg. In 224 minutes batting he had faced 161 balls and hit 12 fours and a six. At 107 he was dropped by substitute Mohammad Akram at backward point off Saqlain. Not much later Goodwin and Flower were past the best fifth wicket stand of 233 between Guy Whittall and Grant Flower made also against Pakistan at Harare in 1995-96.

Having reached his century Goodwin opened up to hit another six, this time off Azhar and soon after reached 150 with 16 fours and two sixes.

From hundred to 150 he took only 33 balls such was his domination over Pakistan bowlers. Andy Flower also got into three figures with the help of 6 fours in 297 minutes batting. This was his fifth Test hundred. The two put on 277 for the fifth wicket, the best ever for any wicket for Zimbabwe before the declaration came at 302 for 4.

The previous best was the fourth wicket for Zimbabwe when the two Flower brothers had made 269 in the first Test at Harare in 1995-96 series. Pakistan set to get 368 to win the Test, were left with 15 overs and three sessions on the final day. With Zimbabwe in the driving seat, the pressure was on Pakistan batting.

Day 5: Moin Khan and Youhana stave off defeat

BULAWAYO, March 18:

Pakistan, in danger of a defeat after four wickets had gone down for 80 while chasing 368 to win, finally were able to settle for a draw in the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens sports Club.

Their saviours being Yousaf Youhana and Moin Khan who between them put on 110 runs for the fifth wicket to salvage Pakistan's rather gloomy display on the final day. The two batted with total discipline and application that was required after Pakistan were dragged into the danger zone by some inept batting and a couple of controversial decisions. But Youhana and Moin taking charge of the Pakistan innings staved off the danger with some intelligent cricket, reaching in the process well deserved half centuries.

Youhana made 64 and Moin was unlucky to miss his century by three runs but he surely was a satisfied man in the end as he not only contributed to a draw but also was the dominating figure even for the seventh wicket unbroken stand of 68 runs with Ijaz Ahmed.

Immediately after Moin's dismissal play had to be called off as a draw, with Pakistan on 258 for 6.

Pakistan was, however, fined 30 per cent of their match fee for bowling six overs short in the match.

The second and final Test will be played at Harare from Saturday.

Pakistan had anxious moment's before lunch on the final day after they had resumed the day's play at 24 without loss and still needing 343 runs to win. The nightwatchman Saqlain Mushtaq had added only two more runs to his overnight score when he played a rather wild cut off Heath Streak to be out caught at the wicket by Andy Flower.

Saeed Anwar who had to retire on the fourth afternoon after being hit in the groin by Streak then walked in to resume from where he had left. His partner Ali Naqvi who never at any time looked confident in the middle was, however, the next to go when he drove uppishly to backward point and was caught by Murray Goodwin off Pom Mbangwa for 13.

Saeed Anwar with all the time in the world seemed to have recovered well to play a couple of well timed drives on the off side but when on 37 he drove a Paul Strang delivery into the hands of short mid-wicket where Goodwin picked up his second catch of the day.

Anwar not sure whether the catch had gone off the ground or from his toes had hesitated before being given out by umpire David Shepherd. Disappointment was writ large all over his face as he left the crease.

At lunch Pakistan with 77 for 3 were in danger of losing their way and when Inzamam-ul-Haq was adjudged caught at the wicket off Streak immediately after lunch, Pakistan were in real danger of another collapse.

Inzamam attempting to glide one off Streak on the let side may have hit his bat on the ground or the ball may have brushed his pad as the umpire Ian Robinson took some time to raise his finger. Inzamam had once again failed. Yousuf Youhana who played a very responsible innings in the first while making 60 showed a lot of maturity to keep his end intact and he also kept finding the gaps to keep the score rolling. His partner Moin Khan was as much determined to survive and the two rarely took any risks as they went past a fifty partnership for the fifth wicket.

At tea they were still together having shared 68 valuable runs. Moin Khan was 31 and Yousaf Youhana 41. Pakistan at 148 for 4 had started to look relatively safe but not out of danger. They continued to frustrate Zimbabwe as the partnership flourished.

Youhana reached his second fifty of the match after tea with 9 fours having batted for 144 minutes but when 64 he fell in the trap as Streak bounced one to him and he hooked to be caught at mid-on. He hit 11 fours in his 175 minutes defiant and highly disciplined innings. With Moin he had put on 110 runs to take Pakistan to safety and a draw seemed inevitable.

Moin 48 then took charge and played attacking cricket to get to his fifty with 7 fours in 158 minutes. He defended strongly to make sure Pakistan do not get into trouble again. At 97, however, he played an ambitious sweep to get to his fourth Test century but top edged a delivery from Dirk Viljoen to short fine leg and was caught by Goodwin.

That was the last wicket to fall as the umpires decided to call the game off with Pakistan 258 for 6.