Pakistan v Zimbabwe –
Pakistan’s Test match against Zimbabwe in the midst of controversies – Part 2
In the absence of big names such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 Pakistan cricket needs to inject young players who are talented enough to take the pressure of playing in international arena.
However, a side cannot survive with an influx of inexperienced youngsters, they need senior players to guide them and prepare them to face tough challenges against formidable teams in the world.
Perhaps considering Zimbabwe as a small threat, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee gambled by naming a young squad accompanied by veterans such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325. The duo has enough experience to guide the side in the tour
which was exhibited during the only Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in the ongoing tour.
Coming to the country in the southern part of the African continent, the Pakistanis were aiming to dominate the Zimbabweans in a bid to redeem the respect that has been lost due to the spot-fixing fiasco.
However, they were in for a surprise as they were taken aback when they finally had a chance to go against the Zimbabweans as after winning the toss Pakistan invited the hosts to bat first, hoping to bowl out the opposition in no time.
On the other hand, the hosts under the captaincy of skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BRM-Taylor-c1200 performed beyond anyone’s wildest imagination by standing against a formidable Pakistan bowling attack on the first day of the Test match as the batsmen exhibited phenomenal craftsmanship
in front of home crowd.
From Zimbabwe openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Sibanda-c2740 started the first day’s proceedings at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo in a bid to post enough runs on the board to give the visitors a run for their money.
The openers forged a splendid partnership as they posted 71 runs against the Men in Green before losing their first wicket when Sibanda after playing a knock of 45 runs was caught behind by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adnan-Akmal-c42042 who is the younger brother of
discarded wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859.
The resilience of the openers was testament to the rise in the standard of cricket in Zimbabwe and perhaps indicated negligence on part of Pakistan as they let the batsmen toy with them and dictate the game.
Later http://www.senore.com/Cricket/H-Masakadza-c1517 provided commendable support to Mawoyo as he posted 11 runs before losing his stumps to Ajmal in the 37th over of the Zimbabwean innings. At the time of his departure the hosts had clobbered 91 runs for the loss of two
wickets.
While it appeared that Zimbabwe had managed to neutralize the Pakistan pace attack they looked vulnerable against the spin bowling as Ajmal struck once more in the 41st over when he trapped skipper Brendan Taylor right in front of stumps causing
the umpire to give the batsman leg-before-wicket after he had scored 10 runs off 12 deliveries.
At the time of the departure of the Zimbabwean captain, the team had managed to post 111 runs for the loss of three wickets.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/T-Taibu-c2630 was the next man in and he also forged a resilient partnership with Mawoyo as the two batsmen ripped the Pakistan bowling attack by playing shots all around the park, leaving Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq out of ideas.
The stiff resistance that was provided by the batsmen was least expected by Pakistan as they desperately tried to break the partnership to get back in the match.
To be continued ……………
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