Pakistan in command of first Zimbabwe Test after fifties by Imran, Abid
Imran Butt and Azhar Ali were unbeaten on 71 and 23 respectively at Lunch.
HARARE (Dunya News) – Pakistan openers – Imran Butt and Abid Ali – scored fifties to take the visitors to a commanding position in the first Test match against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.
The Green Caps were 162/1 at Lunch on day two and trailed the hosts by just 14 runs. Imran Butt and Azhar Ali were unbeaten on 71 and 23 respectively while Abid Ali was dismissed on 60.
Zimbabwe’s Tendai Chisoro took the only wicket of the session. The hosts were bundled out for just 176 on day one on a slow pitch.
Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi destroyed Zimbabwe’s batting line-up. Hasan finished with 4-53 while Afridi grabbed 4-43 after Zimbabwe won the toss and batted first.
Pakistan handed a Test debut to off-spinner Sajid Khan while Zimbabwe included Milton Shumba, Roy Kaia and Richard Ngarava for their first Tests.
The second Test will also be played in Harare from May 7.
Pakistan: Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (capt), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Zimbabwe: Prince Masvaure, Kevin Kasuza, Tarisai Musakanda, Brendan Taylor (capt), Milton Shumba, Roy Kaia, Regis Chakabva (wk), Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chisoro, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
