Tough fight ahead – 2nd Test Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe

Pakistan 230 and 5-158 (Khurram Manzoor 54, Younis Khan 29, Misbah-ul-Haq 26*, Tendai Chatara 2-29) requires another 106 to win vs. Zimbabwe 294 and 199 (Tino Mawoyo 58, Hamilton Masakadza 44, Rahat Ali 5-52)

The 2nd and final Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe has entered an interesting stage where both teams have equal chance of winning the game on the 5th day.

Zimbabwe amassed 294 runs in the first innings and their second was folded back for 199 in 89.5 overs. Pakistan was bowled out for 230 in their first and they scored 158 in 49 overs after losing half of their side in the second innings.

The fourth day’s play concluded on Friday, September 13, 2013, at Harare Sports Club.

Earlier, the hosts resumed their second innings at 4-121 in 50.2 overs whereas their skipper, Brendan Taylor and Vusi Sibanda had yet to open their accounts. They were unable to score any run in the coming 3.4 overs and the latter hit the first four of the day in the 57th one. The fifth wicket fell at 136 when Sibanda was caught behind by Adnan Akmal off Rahat Ali for 10. The rival bowlers brought their team back in the game by taking a couple of quick wickets and the home side was reeling at 7-156 in 71.5 overs.

Khurram Manzoor - Consecutive fifties in the match
Khurram Manzoor – Consecutive fifties in the match

Richmond Mutumbami joined in next with Taylor who hit his second four in the next one and they took the score to 172 after 80 overs at the lunch interval. Brendan Taylor became the next victim at 177 at his personal score of 27 off 83 balls with 2 fours. Mutumbami scored 29 as the entire team was bowled out for 199 in 89.5 overs.

Rahat Ali was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman shared two each whereas Junaid Khan claimed one wicket.

Pakistan was handed over a target of 264 runs to win the game by the hosts with plenty of time left in the encounter. Khurram Manzoor along with Mohammad Hafeez started the chase in a positive manner by hitting 3 fours in the first three overs. The latter added two boundaries in the next one and Khurram Manzoor got his third four in the 6th over. The opening partnership was broken at 30 when Mohammad Hafeez was gone for 16 while Azhar Ali was unable to score any run on the 15 balls and his stumps were broken by Tendai Chatara. Younis Khan got together with Khurram Manzoor who was scoring most of his runs in boundaries.

The run rate was enhanced by the duo and they accumulated 10 runs in the 21st over with another 2 fours. Khurram Manzoor attained his consecutive fifty of the match in the following over but was caught by Malcolm Waller off prosper Utseya for 54 from 66 deliveries with 11 fours. The captain of Pakistan, Misbah-ul-Haq walked in next while Younis Khan gathered two fours in the coming overs but his stumps were destroyed by Brian Vitori for 29. Asad Shafiq was the next batsman in whereas the visitors found it difficult to score the runs against the tight bowling of Zimbabwe.

The pair crept to 133 when Asad Shafiq became the next victim after scoring just 14 runs. Adnan Akmal associated with Misbah-ul-Haq in a difficult situation and the first hit two back to back fours in the 47th over. They reached 5-158 in 49 overs at stumps whereas Misbah-ul-Haq and Adnan Akmal were unbeaten for 26 and 17 runs respectively.

Tendai Chatara and Prosper Utseya were the top wicket takers with two each as Brian Vitori chipped in with one wicket.

The fate of the match will revolve around Misbah-ul-Haq who can lead his side to a victory and Zimbabwe will anticipate his quick removal on the fifth day.


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