Abid Ali’s double-century puts Pakistan in pole position

IN what proved to be a downright forgettable day for hosts Zimbabwe, Pakistan solidified their position with a spectacular double-century from Abid Ali and a lower-order that thoroughly annoyed a worn-out Zimbabwean attack.

Earlier in the morning, nightwatchman Sajid Khan and the ever-impressive Abid Ali kept them at bay. However, three strikes in the first session infused some hopes in the host camp to restrict Pakistan under 400. Sajid’s steadfast knock ended courtesy of a magnificent catch behind, by keeper Regis Chakabva. This gave Donald Tirpano some respite after his muddled lines and lengths the previous day.

As Ali went past 150, and Pakistan 300, Mohammad Rizwan joined for a brief passage before he miscued Tendai Chisoro to mid-off. Luke Jongwe then claimed Hasan Ali for a duck to inject some hope of wrapping up the batters from the other end as Abid declared his intentions of not dropping his guard no matter what.
With dangerously similar intention walked in another Ali, Nauman, who made life difficult for a bowling attack that had been made to toil for four sessions already. If it was Abid and Azhar who did the most damage on day one, Nauman ensured to not have any fear of missing out in a game of Alis.

En route to their mammoth ninth-wicket partnership of 169, Abid notched up his maiden double-century, while an aggressive unbeaten 93 that Nauman had managed until tea took the lead past 500, crushing ruthlessly all hopes for Zimbabwe to restrict Pakistan for a manageable total.

Nauman had started toying with the bowlers once he passed fifty, picking two fours and a six off Milton Shumba before smacking Muzarabani for a boundary to go into the 90s. A deserved century was however denied soon after play resumed after tea, as Chakabva whipped the bails off when Nauman tried to maintain his balance after attempting to play a wide delivery.
Babar Azam immediately called for a declaration. Nauman’s 97 with five sixes and nine fours, alongside Abid, who went undefeated at 215, had put Pakistan in the pole position.
Pushed to bat in the most uncomfortable territory in a Test, Zimbabwe were rocked early by the 36-year-old debutant Tabish Khan, who struck in his first over of international cricket, pinning opener Taris Musakanda for a duck.

With a batter (injured Roy Kaia) short, Zimbabwe’s expectations of responsible batting from the top-order crumbled when Hasan Ali cleaned up Kevin Kasuza, while skipper Brendan Taylor nicked one behind to give Shaheen Afridi his first scalp. After Sajid Khan trapped Shumba lbw, Chisoro battled out the remaining day alongside Chakabva, who used 71 balls for his 28 runs.
The hosts, who are still 458 runs in the red, have an Everest to climb to even avoid the follow-on, 259 runs away with 6 wickets and an injured Kaia in the bank. (CricTracker)

PAKISTAN 1st innings o/n 268-4
Imran Butt c Donald Tiripano b Richard Ngarava 2
Abid Ali not out 215
Azhar Ali c Milton Shumba b Blessing Muzarabani 126
Babar Azam c Kevin Kasuza b Blessing Muzarabani 2
Fawad Alam b Blessing Muzarabani 5
Sajid Khan c Regis Chakabva b Donald Tiripano 20
Mohammad Rizwan c Richard Ngarava b Tendai Chisoro 21
Hassan Ali stp. Regis Chakabva b Luke Jongwe 0
Nauman Ali stp. Regis Chakabva b Tendai Chisoro 97
Extras: (b-7, lb-8, nb-2, w-5) 22
Total: (eight wkts decl., 147.1 overs) 510
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-248, 3-252, 4-264, 5-303, 6-340, 7-341, 8-510.
Bowling: Blessing Muzarabani 29-6-82-3 (w-1), Richard Ngarava 24-5-58-1 (w-1, nb-2), Luke Jongwe 17-1-68-1, Donald Tiripano 22-5-83-1 (w-2), Tendai Chisoro 40.1-7-131-2 (w-1), Milton Shumba 15-1-73-0..

ZIMBABWE 1st innings
Kevin Kasuza b Hassan Ali 4
Tarisai Musakanda lbw Tabish Khan 0
Regis Chakabva not out 28
Brendan Taylor c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi 9
Milton Shumba lbw Sajid Khan 2
Tendai Chisoro not out 1
Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-1) 8
Total: (four wkts, 30.0 overs) 52
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-23, 3-40, 4-47.
Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 9-3-6-1 (w-1), Tabish Khan 10-3-22-1, Hassan Ali 6-3-7-1.