Thu, 01 Sep 2011 - Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Pakistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2011, Only Test Match - Bulletin

Day 5: Pakistan romp home by seven wickets

Pakistan*: 466 - 88 / 3 in 21.4 overs RR: 4.06, Zimbabwe: 412 - 141 in 56.3 overs RR: 2.50

Zimbabwe lasted only fifteen deliveries on the last day setting Pakistan a modest target of 88 run which the visitors achieved without any alarms and won the one-off Test at Bulawayo comprehensively by seven wickets.

Resistance from Taibu and Jarvis had brought back memories of the Sydney Test where Michael Hussey bailed out Australia from a similar situation and Pakistan lost the game. However, the ghosts were put to rest only on sixth ball of the last day as Tatenda Taibu looked to steer a wide one from Cheema for a single but only managed an edge through to the keeper. Taibu failed to add any run to his overnight score of 58, his partnership with Kyle Jarvis worth 66 ended after foiling Pakistan for 27.3 overs.

It was the debutant Cheema again in his next over when Mpofu was also caught behind off a fullish delivery on the off-stump. Zimbabwe could add only 6 to their overnight total to set Pakistan a modest target of 88. The hosts were all-out for 141 as Jarvis was left stranded on 25.

For Pakistan, Cheema’s 8 for 103 were the second best match figures on debut in Tests. After going wicketless for four sessions of Zimbabwe’s first innings, Cheema had wrapped up the tail claiming four scalps and also struck with the new ball yesterday triggering the Zimbabwean collapse. Mohammad Hafeez’s four wickets were also instrumental in restricting the target below three figures.

Pakistan had to bat very badly to loose the match but to Zimbabwe’s bad luck the visitors made short work of the small total. It took all of 21.4 overs to overhaul the target with the first innings centurion Hafeez leading the way.

Tuafeeq Umar got Pakistan off the blocks with a firm push down the ground for a boundary off Jarvis. Zimbabwe skipper brought left armer Ray Price into the attack with a shinny ball and he straightaway went past Hafeez’s bat. However, the right hander did not allow Price to settle into a rhythm and employed the sweep to score quickly.

Meanwhile, Jarvis after removing Taufeeq in the first innings repeated the dose by getting him to knick an away going delivery to the keeper. This minor hiccup, however, didn’t deter Hafeez from batting aggressively. He hit half a dozen boundaries and a six in 44-ball 38 before Price bowled him round his legs.

With the target in sights Azhar Ali tried to have some fun with the bowling but skied one to give Price his second wicket. At 80 for 3, the formalities were completed by Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq by lofting Price for a boundary to lead his side to a comfortably seven wicket victory ten minutes before Lunch.

Day 4: Bullettin on next page