By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 10: A devastating bowling spell of four for 54 by Waqar Younis in the morning session, and guileful bowling by Saqlain Mushtaq, who destroyed the middle and late-order batting by claiming five for 32, helped rejuvenated Pakistan to bundle out Zimbabwe for 183 on opening day of the second cricket Test here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
The stand-in skipper Moin Khan, who had to take over the captaincy due to absence of Captain Aamir Sohail, officially reported to be suffering from stomach disorder, made sensible bowling changes, giving no respite to the Zimbabwean batsmen.
Despite five changes in the final eleven from the team which lost the first Test at Peshawar, Pakistan put up an excellent display witnessed after pretty long time. Heart-warming was the fine catching by the Pakistanis, who supported the bowlers, particularly Waqar and Saqlain and hardly missed anything during the day's play which helped in restricting Zimbabwe to a low total. Had Andy Flower (60 not out with 7 fours) and Craig Wishart (28 with four fours) not put on 49 runs for the sixth wicket partnership in 80 minutes, Zimbabwe would have been much poorly placed.
Match referee Cammie Smith of West Indies told mediamen thatthe day's play had been called off 16 minutes before the scheduled close of play due to bad light and the second day's play would start tomorrow at 9:44 am instead of 10 am. He said that light was offered to the Pakistan team which did not agree to begin its first innings.
Five changes were made in the team which lost the first Test. Rawalpindi-born 24-year-old Muhammad Naveed (who scored a century in a side match against Australia), made his debut replacing opener Aamir Sohail while Salim Malik came in place of unfit Inzimam-ul-Haq, paceman Shoaib Akhtar replaced Aaqib Javed, young Hasan Raza played in place of the all-rounder Azhar Mahmood and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq replaced the right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad.
Bowling genuinely quick and seaming the ball appreciably, Waqar Younis sent the first four Zimbabwe batsmen back to the pavilion with only 28 runs on the board. In his first spell of eight overs, he gave away only 18 runs, causing a collapse of top-order batting. His new-ball partner unlucky Wasim Akram, bowled well throughout the day, though being erratic at times, but could not get a wicket in his 20 overs in which he gave away 42 runs.
Gavin Rennie (3) was Waqar's first victim. The opener cuta ball uppishly, without moving his feet and playing away from his body, that flew to slips and Ijaz Ahmad spilled the ball before turning around and holding on to the catch. Zimbabwe was one down for three. Murray Goodwin edged an outswinger from Waqar and was well caught by wicketkeeper Moin Khan.
Zimbabwe lost their second wicket at 16. Captain Alistair Campbell (5) tried to play defensively an over-pitched delivery from Waqar, mistimed his stroke and Yousaf Yohana moved a few steps to take a good catch at the total of 22. Umpire Mian Muhammad Aslam raised finger immediately as Grant Flower (7) missed an inswinger from Waqar and was hit low on his pad. Zimbabwe were in real trouble as they lost their four wickets for 28.
To make things worse for Zimbabwe, its most consistent scorer during this tour, Neil Johnson (14 in 38 minutes), fell to Shoaib Akhtar at the total of 55. He went on his backfoot and edged a delivery from the young paceman and the bowler heldthe catch. At lunch, Zimbabwe was struggling at 68 for five.
Craig Wishart and Andy Flower batted sensibly in the sixth wicket partnership and struggled hard to steady the sagging Zimbabwe innings. They succeeded in taking the total to 104 before Saqlain Mushtaq began his magical spell. In his 35 balls, Saqlain bagged three wickets to cripple the middle-order.
On third delivery of Saqlain's third over, Wishart knelt on his knee to lift him out of the ground, ballooned the ball in the air and Salim Malik held a good catch. Heath Streak (19 in 44 minutes with two fours) tried to stroke the first ball, a flighted delivery from Saqlain's eighth over, edged it towards first slip and Wasim Akram held a low, left-handed catch.
The seventh wicket fell at 137. Saqlain's first delivery of ninth over accounted for Henry Olonga (3), who tried to sweep the ball out of the ground but ballooned it in the air and Shoaib Akhtar ran a few yards at backward square-leg and held a brilliant catch. Zimbabwe was eight down for 140. At tea, Zimbabwe reached 144 for eight.
During his last spell of 2.5 overs Saqlain gave away four runs and claimed both wickets to mop up the tail. Andrew Huckle (13) tried to pull the off-spinner's last ball of his 12th over out of the ground, the ball flew in air and Saeed Anwar ran a few yards before catching the ball. Zimbabwe lost ninth wicket at 170. Cutting Saqlain's fifth ball of his 14th over, Mbangwa (2) was caught by Ijaz Ahmad in first slip and the Zimbabwe innings folded at 183.
The experienced Andy Flower was the only Zimbabwean batsman, who faced the Pakistani pacemen and spinner with equal dexterity. He hit seven elegant boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 60, occupying the crease for 260 minutes, while wickets kept tumbling on the other end. It was a commendable batting display.
Day 2: Saeed Anwar slams fine 75 in Pakistan's 184/5
By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 11: A fine knock of 75 by opener Saeed Anwar on a seaming pitch helped Pakistan to take a token lead of one run over Zimbabwe by hitting 184 for five in reply to visitors' 183 all out on second day of the second cricket Test here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
When umpires Mian Mohammad Aslam (Pakistan) and Darrell Hair (Australia) called off the day's play at 3.55 pm, 35 minutes before the close of play due to bad light, Yousuf Youhana was batting at 30, after having stayed at the crease for 107 minutes, and acting captain Moin Khan was not out at 18.
The future course of the match will be determined by the lead Pakistan will muster before losing all the remaining five wickets.
It goes to the credit of the four Pakistani batsmen that they faced the Zimbabwean bowlers who bowled at a tidy length almost throughout the day.
Saeed Anwar and Mohammad Naveed laid the foundation of Pakistan innings by scoring 69 runs for the first wicket partnership in 127 minutes. Both batted very patiently in trying conditions, hitting only loose deliveries. Mohammad Naveed was clean bowled as he tried to drive Heath Streak's inswinger immediately after the drinks interval. Mohammad Naveed stayed at the crease for 127 minutes, faced 90 balls and hit four boundaries in his knock of 32.
To complete his half-century, Saeed Anwar drove Henry Olonga to get his seventh boundary. Both Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmad took Pakistan's score to 111 at the interval without being separated.
Pakistan lost four wickets after lunch and for a while it looked that Zimbabwe will snatch back the advantage. Saeed Anwar tried to drag an away going ball from Neil Johnson and wicketkeeper Andy Flower dived to his left to hold a good catch. The second Pakistani wicket fell at the total of 121. Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmad added 52 runs for the second wicket partnership in only 54 minutes.
Saeed Anwar batted very well during the morning session but rode his luck after lunch by hitting strokes which landed in ``no man's land'' on at least three occasions. Trying a similar shot he was out. Saeed Anwar cut, pulled and drove artistically to reach 75 with the help of 11 boundaries. He occupied the crease for 182 minutes and played 114 balls.
Ijaz Ahmad (16 in 76 minutes) was the third Pakistani out at the total of 129. He tried a rising delivery from Neil Johnson uppishly and Adam Huckle jumped in the air for a brilliant right-handed catch. Salim Malik (2), who became second Pakistani after Javed Miandad to play his 100th Test, was unfortunately run out. Yousuf Youhana cover drove a ball towards mid-off and called Salim Malik to steal a cheeky single. Heath Streak smartly fielded the ball and threw the stumps at the batting end before Salim Malik could reach the crease. Umpire Mian Mohammad Aslam signalled to the TV umpire Mohammad Siddique Khan, who ruled Salim Malik run out without the slightest hesitation. The fourth wicket fell at 132.
Young Hasan Raza made three laborious runs in 39 minutes and was the fifth batsman out at the total of 147. Hasan mistimed Huckle's delivery moving on the front foot and the bal flew after kissing his bat and pad and Gavin Rennie dived to hold a good catch. Soon followed the tea-interval.
Yousuf Youhana and Moin Khan played the post-tea session confidently and cautiously. They punished every loose delivery. Both drove well and never hesitated to go for their shots whenever they got punishable balls. When play was stopped due to bad light, both added 37 for the unbroken sixth-wicket stand. Light becomes poor in early winter afternoons of Lahore.
Neil Johnson took two wickets for 40, while Heath Streak and Adam Huckle took a wicket, each, conceding 50 and five runs, respectively.
Day 3: Heavy fog limits day's play to 54 minutes only
By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 12: Heavy fog in the provincial metropolis restricted third day's play of the second cricket Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday to only 54 minutes.
The game could begin at 2:15 pm after several inspections by umpires during which 145 minutes had been lost. Pakistan reached 211 for five, increasing its lead over the visitors to 28. The fourth day's play will begin at 9:30 am but weather may not permit that on Sunday.
Yousaf Yohana (overnight 30) took his individual score to 46 and stand-in captain Moin Khan (overnight 18) to 24 before the two umpires Mian Muhammad Aslam (Pakistan) and Darrel Hair (Australia) offered to the two batsmen at the crease to stop the game due to bad light at 3:08, two minutes before the tea interval. They decided to come out of the ground without the slightest hesitation. It looked an unwise decision as they could enhance Pakistan's lead considerably during whatever time was available to them and try to bundle out the opposing side as early as possible to register a win and level the series 1-1.
After an early tea interval was ordered, the two umpires went to the middle of the ground with their light-metre at 3:18 pm to check visibility but did not resume the match. Thereafter, another inspection was made by them at 3:30 pm and after a final visit to the pitch at 4 pm they decided to call off the game.
For first time this winter, Lahore has been hit by the fog. That made the weather cold. However, sun came out and shined brightly for better part of the afternoon. One had an impression that the visibility was good enough to start the match but the umpires thought otherwise. That was rather surprising for a small number of spectators also who did not like the decision of the umpires.
During the play, both the not out batsmen played with confidence. For the unbroken sixth wicket partnership, they have added 64 runs up till now.
Yousaf Yohana cut Mbangwa for a four to hoist Pakistan's total to 200. Yousaf has hit seven boundaries in his 161-minute's stay at the crease while Moin has hit three boundaries and he has batted for 109 minutes.
Day 4: Fog again hampers play as Youhana hits century
By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 13: Helped by a fighting, maiden century by Yousaf Youhana, Pakistan declared its first innings at 325 for nine to muster 142 runs lead on fourth day of the second Cricket Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Due to fog and bad light, another 171 minutes' play was lost and only 45 overs could be bowled in the whole day's play.
When play was stopped five minutes before the tea interval due to poor visibility, Zimbabwe had scored 48 without loss in 12 overs, consuming 60 minutes in the second knock and reducing the lead to 94 runs. Gavin Rennie at 16 and Grant Flower at 17 will resume the Zimbabwe second innings on fifth and last day of the match on Monday at 9:30 am.
The two umpires Mian Muhammad Aslam (Pakistan) and Darrel Hair (Australia) made two inspections of the ground before calling off play. The match was supposed to continue till 5 pm.
The provincial metropolis has remained covered by a blanket of fog in the mornings since the beginning of this Test on Thursday and visibility has been poor throughout the game. There are very little chances of a full day's play on Monday. This Test looks to be heading for a dull draw as two innings cannot be completed in a single day.
The fourth day's play started at 10:45 pm and continued till 3:05 pm. Yousaf Youhana, with his cool and sensible batting, dominated the day's play without getting out. He hooked, cut, drove and pulled the ball masterfully to remain not out at 120. Yousaf stayed at the crease for 306 minutes, faced 206 balls and hit 15 boundaries and a big six.
Yousaf hooked the ball towards square-leg to take two runs and reach his century. The overjoyed batsman responded to the cheering crowd as he took off his cap and waved to them. It was a remarkable ton scored in trying circumstances. At no stage, he was overawed by the Zimbabwean bowlers while wickets continued to fall on the other end. Yousaf lofted the ball over long-off boundary for his only six.
Olonga struck three quick blows for Zimbabwe. Stand-in skipper Moin Khan was half-forward to a low ball from Olonga, struck on the pad and Mian Muhammad Aslam raised his finger to declare him leg before wicket. The sixth wicket fell at the total of 213. Both Yousaf and Moin added 66 runs for the sixth-wicket partnership.
Wasim Akram (2) played a defensive shot on a rising delivery from Olonga but edged the ball to second slip and Johnson held the catch on second attempt after fumbling in the first one. Saqlain Mushtaq was clean bowled by Olonga without scoring. Pakistan was eight down for 215.
Yousaf found a good partner in Shoaib Akhtar (11 in 63 minutes) and both added 60 runs in 63 minutes for ninth-wicket stand before being separated. Shoaib was clean bowled by Huckle when he missed the line of a leg-break from Huckle. However, both carried the Pakistan total to 275.
Waqar Younis (24 in 48 minutes with four fours) and Yousaf added 50 runs in 48 minutes for the unbroken tenth wicket partnership. The Pakistan first innings was declared at 1:51 pm at 325 runs for nine, accumulated in 113 overs.
Both the Zimbabwe openers Gavin Rennie (16) and Grant Flower (17) scored 48 runs in 12 overs for unbroken first-wicket partnership. The three Pakistani bowlers, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq failed to unnerve them. Main tormentor of Zimbabwe in first innings, Waqar Younis could not bowl on Sunday afternoon as he was running temperature.