Hafeez stars in Pakistan win

An impressive all-round performance from Mohammad Hafeez saw Pakistan canter to an 85-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international at Harare Sports Club.

Hafeez plundered 71 off 48 balls to lead the tourists to an imposing total of 198-4.

He then starred with the ball as well, claiming 4-10 in 2.2 overs as Zimbabwe were skittled out for 113.

Pakistan were asked to bat after Brendan Taylor won the toss, but the Zimbabwe captain must have been questioning his decision when Hafeez struck the second and third balls of the game for four.

Things got worse for the bowler, Chris Mpofu, when Asad Shafiq hit four successive boundaries in his next over.

Elton Chigumbura came in for similar treatment with two fours and a six hit in his first over, which cost 15, while the home bowlers were not helping themselves as they contributed a total of 15 runs through wides.

Ray Price was the chief offender, but he saw Shafiq run out for 38 off 23 balls in his next over with the score on 74.

Gifted

The blow did not slow Hafeez down though, as he whipped a four and a six of Hamilton Masakadza's first over, and was then gifted another maximum off the same bowler when Mpofu pushed the ball over the boundary.

Hafeez finally perished with the score on 147, but debutant Rameez Raja and Umar Akmal both got past 20, while Sohail Tanvir hammered an unbeaten 17 from five balls.

Sohail Khan dismissed Vusi Sibanda and Cephas Zhuwao in the second over of Zimbabwe's reply and when Sohail Tanvir got rid of Taylor with the score on 37, Pakistan were well on their way to victory.

Hafeez then took over with three quick wickets and, fittingly, returned to finish the game off by bowling Price.

Only Charles Coventry (30 off 13) and Chamu Chibhabha (28 off 26) made meaningful contributions for Zimbabwe, who will try again at the same venue on Sunday.

Pakistan whitewash Zimbabwe

Harare, Zimbabwe – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 28 runs in the third one-day international on Wednesday to complete a clean sweep of the three-match series.

Pace bowler Aizaz Cheema claimed a career-best 4/43 as Zimbabwe was restricted to 242/9 in 50 overs after Pakistan posted 270/5.

Cheema mixed up his deliveries well to remove Brendan Taylor (6), Malcolm Waller (19), Elton Chigumbura (9) and Ray Price (10).

Spinner Yasir Shah picked up two wickets as Zimbabwe collapsed after posting a century first-wicket partnership between openers Vusi Sibanda (59) and Chamu Chibhabha (62).

Pakistan set Zim 271 to win

Harare – Zimbabwe were set a winning target of 271 runs by Pakistan after containing the tourists' acceleration towards the end of innings on the third of three ODI at Harare Sports Club Wednesday.

Pakistan won the first two internationals and got off to a spectacular start with Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat scoring 32 runs off the first three overs.

However on a batsmen friendly pitch Zimbabwe managed to turn the screw and slow Pakistan's run rate, which climaxed at 270 in their 50 overs.

Despite their promising start Hafeez and Farhat both mistimed attempts for boundaries and were caught, Hafeez by Malcolm Waller off Brian Vitori for 23 and Farhat by Chamu Chibhabha off Elton Chigumbura for 37.

With the score standing at 76/2 and the run rate dropping to about five an over from then on, Zimbabwe held the fort well although Assad Shafiq and Younis Khan put on 97 for the third wicket without undue haste as the score steadily mounted.

Shafiq made 51 – his fifth half-century – before being stumped by Tatenda Taibu off Ray Price. Taibu fumbled the ball but Shafiq was so far down the wicket he was able to recover.

Khan was looking to secure his seventh ODI century but he was caught and bowled Kyle Jarvis with a diving effort for 81. It was his 44th half century in internationals.

Zimbabwe had hopes for a breakthrough at that stage and Shoaib Malik only accrued 14 before being caught and bowled by Chigumbura, who made amends for dropping Khan when he was on 56.

Misbah ul Haq and Adnan Akmal in his unorthodox fashion moved the scoreboard briskly along to the final 270-5 with 29 and 24 respectively.

Apart from a poor start the Zimbabwe bowlers were better than in recent matches, Chigumbura especially tight and successful with 2/36 in nine overs.

Zimbabwe need to produce at least a score that comes close to the Pakistan total in order to satisfy their critics, who have been vocal in the last few days. A win would quickly turn their fortunes around – and their status at this level.

Pakistan restrict Zim in second ODI

Harare – Pakistan held the upper hand after restricting Zimbabwe to 225-6 in their second One Day International at Harare Sports Club here Sunday.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat with Brendan Taylor's team getting off to a very slow start.

There were three maidens in the first seven overs by Juanid Khan and Sohail Tanveer. Vusi Sibanda scored one run from 20 balls before getting out for 14.

Hamilton Masakadza scored only four from his first 25 balls.

In the first 10 overs only 22 runs were on the scoreboard.

It all added up to potential disaster for the home team, though they went on to make a recovery of sorts.

Masakadza ended with 68 runs but from 118 balls, well below par. He held the team together, but fell well short of what he should have scored from that number of deliveries. It was his 18th half century.

Taylor also got 50 runs, his 23rd half century, while Tatenda Taibu hit a bright and adventurous 26. Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya took 13 off Tanveer's last over, but it had the look of being too little too late.

It was as much Pakistan's opening attack success as Zimbabwe's failure in the early stages of the innings.

Junaid Khan finished with 1-29 in 10 overs, and Tanveer took two wickets for 43 in nine overs.

Sibanda and partner Justice Chibhabha simply couldn't cope with the seamers' policy of swinging the ball across them.

The Zimbabwe middle order were much more comfortable with the spinners, taking a succession of singles. Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura hit sixes but they were more gestures than substantive contributions.

Taylor might well rue the decision to bat first. Pakistan have a strong batting line-up and they will be feeling confident of getting 226 runs for victory and the series.

Pakistan won the first of the three match series in Nulawayo on Thursday.

Pakistan just too strong for Zim

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Pakistan scrambled a five-run victory over Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in the first of three one-day internationals here on Thursday.

That was the official result, but the reality is that Zimbabwe lost it in the final over when they needed 12 runs to win but made only seven.

It could hardly have been closer as both sides struggled against good and varied bowling all day.

Winning the toss, Pakistan went into bat first and made 247 runs, somewhat below their expectations on a slow but reliable batting wicket.

Zimbabwe, losing fewer wickets in the early stages, looked to have it wrapped up during the middle period.

But two excellent overs from Saeed Ajmal in the latter critical stages that conceded only five runs left Zimbabwe with too much to do.

The story is told by Zimbabwe's final run-in.

They needed 125 runs from 20 overs, 74 from 10 overs, 42 from 40 balls, when they appeared to have the match well in hand, 25 from 18 balls, 22 from 12 and finally 12 from the last six.

Elton Chigumbura, returning from a knee injury, was going well in the final stages but just could not get the runs needed at the end.

Pakistan lost Imrun Farhat in the first over of the day but Younis Khan struck 78 in 72 balls to steady the tourists.

Misbah ul-Haq weighed in with 54 in a partnership of 60 for the fourth wicket.

The Akmal brothers, Umar and Adnan, made 36 and 27 respectively but Adnan's wild and fruitless swipes cost Pakistan quite a few runs.

Their 247-7 total did not seem to be enough and the Pakistanis were certainly stifled in general by consistent Zimbabwe bowling, which was mainly spin and medium pace.

For Zimbabwe, in reply Vusi Sibanda made 73 but the main performer for the home team was Brendan Taylor with 84, recovering from a run of low scores.

Tatenda Taibu made 26 in his usual brisk manner and Chigumbura, who might have become match-winner with big hitting early on, could not maintain the necessary momentum.

Aizaz Cheema was the most successful bowler with 3-36 and it was he who saw Pakistan through in the end by conceding just five runs in the final over.

Man of the match was named as Younis Khan.

The Pakistan tour now moves to Harare for the remaining two ODIs and two Twenty20 matches.

Younis Khan stars for Pakistan

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq hit half-centuries Thursday to help Pakistan reach 247-7 in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club.

Zimbabwe's opening bowler Chris Mpofu and spinner Ray Price took two wickets each to stem the Pakistan run flow on a good batting wicket.

Younis (78) first shared a second-wicket stand of 73 runs with Mohammad Hafeez (26) after Pakistan lost opener Imran Farhat for a duck early, before adding 52 with captain Misbah for the third wicket.

Farhat went early after nicking Mpofu to wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu. Vusi Sibanda then took a brilliant low catch at square leg off Utseya to remove Hafeez.

Younis faced 72 balls and smashed nine boundaries, finding the gaps and using the fast outfield to full effect before he was run out by Malcolm Waller's throw to wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu in the 25th over.

Misbah, who was trapped in front of middle stump on 54 trying to reverse-sweep spinner Ray Price in the 40th over, struck three boundaries and a six from 64 balls.

Umar Akmal (36) and Adnan Akmal (27) made sure Pakistan reached a competitive total at the end before falling to Mpofu and Price, respectively.

Pakistan beat Zim in one-off Test

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets at Queens Sports Club here on Monday, getting the winning runs with seven wickets in hand a few minutes before lunch on day five.

They were left needing 88 runs for victory after bundling the home team out for 141 runs in their second innings, although they did lose three wickets in the process.

Having been put into bat by Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq, Zimbabwe reached 412 all out in their first innings before the tourists replied with 466 all out to establish a first-innings lead of 54.

There was not much in it at that stage but Zimbabwe's second effort collapsed to 135-8 at the close of the fourth day, leaving the Pakistanis with the prospect of a routine mop-up operation.

Ul Haq said afterwards: “Maybe I was mistaken asking Zimbabwe to bat first. The wicket had green patches. But the bowlers stuck to the task well.

“Our batting to follow was excellent, of good quality. I am proud of the youngsters, especially Aizaz Cheema, who took eight wickets in the match.

“Zimbabwe are a good side and they will improve with experience and become a strong force in the game I'm sure.”

Man of the match was Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez, who scored 119 and took four wickets for 31.

With one more wicket he would have recorded a 'viper' in cricket terms – a century plus five wickets in an innings but he did not get a bowl in the final session.

Zimbabwe's opening innings score of 412 looked likely to secure at least a draw, which was their prime target in terms of their need to gain respectability in top cricket circles after being readmitted to Tests after a gap of six years.

And if they had not dropped seven Pakistan wickets in their first innings, plus a fumbled run-out opportunity, the tourists' response might have been much lower than 466.

The Zimbabweans' batsmen were exposed by both Pakistan seam and spin in the second innings.

The wicket had deteriorated and they showed inexperience in dealing with it. Five wickets were lost before they even got past the 54-run deficit.

Only Tatenda Taibu and Kyle Jarvis stood between a single figure total and the 141 runs they eventually managed to scrape together.

They put on 66 for the ninth wicket during the late afternoon of the fourth day – not quite a face-saving effort, more a reprimand to their colleagues.

However, the Zimbabwe innings lasted only 15 balls on Monday morning, Taibu and last man Christopher Mpofu falling to Cheema.

Pakistan lost Hafeez, Tafeeq Umar and Azhar Ali in reaching the winning line, but concentration levels required could not have been of the highest.

The first of three one-day internationals will be played here on Thursday, followed by the other two in the series and two Twenty20

matches to round out the Pakistan tour in Harare.

Taibu stands firm for Zim

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Pakistan's attempt to wrap up their one-off Test with Zimbabwe a day early was thwarted by a resolute innings from Tatenda Taibu at Queens Sports club here Sunday.

An astonishing collapse by the hosts in their second innings saw them go to tea on the fourth day on 56/5, just two runs ahead of Pakistan who had been dismissed for 466 just after lunch.

But Zimbabwe lived to fight until the final day thanks to a gutsy ninth-wicket stand worth 66 between Taibu (58) and Kyle Jarvis.

The hosts will resume their second innings on 135, a lead of 81.

Zimbabwe will have been relieved to pass their lowest Test total, 54 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2005.

The Zimbabweans had more than held their own over the first three days but that effort seemed to have taken its toll as their top order batsmen surrendered their wickets all too easily with captain Brendan Taylor out for five for his sixth successive failure.

Tinotenda Mawoyo barely made it to double figues as he went for 12.

The match looked on a plate for Pakistan, especially when the score for Zimbabwe stood at 69 for eight, providing a trifling lead of 15 with two wickets left.

But the irrepressible Taibu was having none of it, especially when Jarvis dug in as well.

The recovery game is one that Taibu often plays well.

He is small but stubborn and skilful in desperate situations, as he has shown before.

His present effort is a hopeless cause, most likely, but one worth taking up for the sake of the record books.

The story of the day began in late afternoon when Zimbabwe set out to wipe off their 54-run deficit.

But they fell into a heap of broken wickets. Vusi Sibanda was caught trying to hook, then came Mawoyo's exit on 12, 151 runs short of his first innings effort.

The next seven batsmen all failed to reach double figures until Taibu and Jarvis put on the brakes.

Taibu's 58 was his 11th Test half century.

Despite causing so much mayhem early on, Pakistan bowlers Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Hafeez, from whom so much was expected, could make no further progress.

Hafeez could however record on Monday what is known as a “viper” – a century and five wickets.

He would be the 20th player in Test history to have this on his c.v.. But first Taibu and Jarvis must be broken.

Earlier the Pakistani batsmen had thrown caution to the wind as they upped the scoring rate to go into lunch on 460-8.

Beginning the session on 357-5 and looking for a big lead to put Zimbabwe under pressure, Pakistan lost three wickets, including the pivotal wicket of Younis Khan, who only added 27 to his overnight score of 61.

He was caught somewhat fortuitously at first slip by Taylor off veteran spinner Raymond Price, the ball first bouncing off wicketkeeper Taibu's pad.

Umar Akmal survived a TV review of a run-out appeal but he failed to capitalise on that reprieve as he was caught soon afterwards by Taylor off Gregory Lamb for 15.

Sohail Khan was then caught by Lamb on the mid-wicket boundary off Christopher Mpofu for 11.

Khan had been dropped at gully by Hamilton Masakadza just beforehand -the sixth spilling of the innings – and he punished Masakadza by hitting the next ball for a six.

Saeed Ajmal spent the last three overs of the morning scoring quick runs but was eventually out for 28 after lunch, bowled by the dependable Price.

Zim suffer stunning collapse

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Pakistan were on the verge of victory here on Sunday after an astonishing collapse by hosts Zimbabwe in their second innings of the one-off Test match saw them go to tea on 56/5.

It left the hosts just two runs ahead of the tourists, who had been dismissed for 466 just after lunch.

The only consolation would have been that they had passed their lowest test total, 54 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2005.

The Zimbabweans had more than held their own over the first three days but it seemed to have taken its toll as their top order batsmen surrendered their wickets all too easily with captain Brendan Taylor out for five for his sixth successive failure.

Tinotenda Mawoyo was the only one to even reach double figures as he went for 12, but that was as good as it got.

Saeed Ajmal and Aizaz Cheema took two wickets apiece while Mohammad Hafeez delivered a heavy blow to the hosts when he trapped Craig Ervine leg before shortly before the interval.

Earlier the Pakistani batsmen had thrown caution to the wind as they upped the scoring rate to go into lunch on 460-8.

Beginning the session on 357-5 and looking for a big lead to put Zimbabwe under pressure, Pakistan lost three wickets, including the pivotal wicket of Younis Khan, who only added 27 to his overnight score of 61.

He was caught somewhat fortuitously at first slip by Taylor off veteran spinner Raymond Price, the ball first bouncing off wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu's pad.

Umar Akmal survived a TV review of a run-out appeal but he failed to capitalise on that reprieve as he was caught soon afterwards by Taylor off Gregory Lamb for 15.

Sohail Khan was then caught by Lamb on the mid-wicket boundary off Christopher Mpofu for 11.

Khan had been dropped at gully by Hamilton Masakadza just beforehand – the sixth spilling of the innings – and he punished Masakadza by hitting the next ball for a six.

Saeed Ajmal spent the last three overs of the morning scoring quick runs but was eventually out for 28 after lunch, bowled by the dependable Price.

Zimbabwe's fielding in general cost them dear throughout the innings and it showed no change on Sunday as several elementary errors in the field cost them more runs.

Pakistan steady, Zim punished

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Pakistan reached 357/5 in reply to the hosts' 412 all out at the close of the third day of the one-off Test at Queens Sports Club here Saturday.

Zimbabwe missed a cluster of chances to pile the pressure on Pakistan, dropping five catches with a fielding fumble also costing them an easy run out.

The day was also marked by two batsmen passing the 1000 Test run landmark, with Mohammed Hafeez reaching 115 and scoring his third century and Umar Akmal, when he had reached 12.

However neither pair went very far afterwards.

Hafeez was out at lunch for 119, which included a six and 17 fours – a career highest.

Umar was out for 15 off the last ball of the day. He hit Greg Lamb hard onto a close fielder's shoulder and Brendan Taylor took the rebound.

Azhar Ali moved his overnight 27 to 75 before giving a nick to Tatendo Taibu off Lamb. It was his ninth Test 50 and his third in succession.

Captain Misbah ul Haq made a fluent 66, remarkably his ninth half century in his last 11 innings.

Predictably remaining to fight another day in partnership with the incoming Adnan Akmal is Younis Khan, who is on 61 after securing his 24th fifty.

Pakistan will be looking to these two to take them past the Zimbabwe total on Sunday.

There have been two significant partnerships for the tourists - Hafeez and Ali put on 188 for the second wicket and Khan put on 100 with Ul Haq for the fourth.

For Zimbabwe it was a generally successful day in difficult flat-pitch circumstances, due largely to the spinners Raymond Price and Lamb.

Price was economy supreme, conceding 39 runs in 34 overs with 18 maidens but without any wickets. Lamb disposed of three tourists for 85.

However the pacemen Chrisopher Mpofu and Brian Vitori drew blanks in conceding 148 runs between them.

Pakistan will need another good partnership Sunday to gain the advantage while Zimbabwe will need two more wickets to get into the tail and that could give them pole position.

Ill discipline lets Zim down

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Hosts Zimbabwe missed the chance to pile the pressure on Pakistan by dropping five catches as the tourists raced to 280/3 in their first innings before tea on the third day of the one-off Test.

Zimabwe, all out for 412 in their innings Friday, were also left rueing a fumbled run-out opportunity that could have slowed Pakistan's bid to build on an overnight score of 116/1.

Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali put on 188 for the second Pakistan wicket.

The in-form Hafeez had two lucky escapes on his way to his third test century but his luck ran out two balls from the lunch interval when on 119 he spooned the ball to Gregory Lamb off medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza.

Hafeez's 119 included a six and 17 fours and saw him pass the landmark of 1000 runs.

Hafeez rode his luck throughout the innings as in his opening over of the day Chris Mpofu dropped a straightforward caught and bowled chance. He and Ali were also stranded at one end of the wicket but a fielding mix-up let them off.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor persisted with seamers through most of the morning, Mpofu bowling ten straight overs but finally opted for a change of tactics when he brought on medium pacer Masakadza and it duly paid off with Hafeez's rush of blood to the head.

Ali's long innings came to an end when he on 75 he was caught by former skipper Tatenda Taibu off Lamb.

However, Younis Khan and captain Misbah ul Haq prevented any further inroads and had put on an unbeaten 62 runs fourth wicket partnership by tea with Khan on 30 and ul-Haq on 37.

Hafeez reaches Test ton

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – In-form Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez had two lucky escapes on his way to his third Test century here on Saturday on the third day of the one-off Test with Zimbabwe.

Hafeez's luck ran out though two balls from the lunch interval when on 119 he spooned the ball to Gregory Lamb off medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza.

However, he and the more sedate Azhar Ali, who was 65 not out, had taken Pakistan on to a comfortable 196/2 at the break in reply, 217 runs adrift of the hosts respectable 412 all out in their first innings.

Hafeez's 119 included a six and 17 fours and saw him pass the landmark of 1000 runs.

Hafeez rode his luck throughout the innings as in his opening over of the day Chris Mpofu dropped a straightforward caught and bowled chance. He and Ali were also stranded at one end of the wicket but a fielding fumble let them off.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor persisted with seamers through most of the morning, Mpofu bowling ten straight overs but finally opted for a change of tactics when he brought on medium pacer Masakadza and it duly paid off with Hafeez's rush of blood to the head.

Hafeez leads Pakistan’s fightback

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – Tintotenda Mawoyo became the third Zimbabwean player to carry his bat as the opener made 163 not out in his side's first innings total of 412 on the second day of the Test against Pakistan at Queens Sports Club Friday.

After the early loss of Taufeeq Umar, the Pakistan batsmen settled well on an easy pitch and by the close had reached 116 for one with Mohammad Hafeez on 79 and Azhar Ali on 27. They trail by 296 runs with nine wickets in hand.

The day, however, belonged to the 25-year-old Mawoyo who picked up where he left off on Thursday as he stone-walled the Pakistan attack.

Resuming on 82 he went on to reach his maiden Test century and then, as wickets fell around him, pushed on past the 150-mark.

When last man Chris Mpofu was bowled by Aizeez Cheema to signal the delayed tea interval, Mawoyo had become the 47th batsman in the history of Test cricket Ä this is the 2006th Test match Ä to carry his bat.

The only two Zimbabweans to do it before him also achieved the feat against Pakistan. Mark Dekker made 68 not out in Rawalpini in 1993 while Grant Flower hit 156 not out on this ground in 1998.

Starting the day on 245 for four, Zimbabwe lost Craig Ervine early when he gave Juanid Jhan his first Test wicket, caught and bowled for 49, ending a fifth wicket partnership of 94 with Mawoyo.

Debutant Greg Lamb, however, dug in to add another 95 with the opener for the sixth wicket.

Mawoyo had a major stroke of luck when he was on 98 as Adnan Akmal missed a straightforward stumping off Saeed Ajmal. It was his second chance as Sohail Khan dropped him on the boundary when he had made 25.

There was a little bit of uncertainty as he reached his century. Mawoyo thought he was running a leg-bye only to realise it was his all-important 100th run when the umpire failed to signal the extra.

Mawoyo faced 453 balls and spent a total of 645 minutes at the crease, hitting 20 boundaries during the course of his innings.

Only David Houghton, who made 266 in 675 minutes against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo in 1994 and Flower, whose 201 not out against Pakistan in Harare in 1995 spanned 654 minutes, have produced longer innings for Zimbabwe.

When Lamb fell for 38, the Zimbabwe tail fell apart but they still got the side across the psychological 400-odd mark.

Saeed Ajmal bowled with guile and variation, his doosras a constant torment to the Zimbabwe batsmen but he was out of luck, finishing with four for 143. It fell to Aizaz Cheema to clean up with tail and he helped himself to four for 79.

When Pakistan came out after tea, they were quickly in trouble as Taufeeq Umar was given out leg before to Kyle Jarvis even though the ball pitched outside leg stump.

Hafeez, however, made light of the setback, hammering one six off Lamb and 15 fours – three of them off successive deliveries from Brian Vitori – as he raced to 79 from just 93 deliveries.

His partner Azkar Ali was more circumspect, nudging his way to 27 from 72 deliveries but by the close the stand was worth 108 and both batsmen were looking forward to another dig on this batting-friendly pitch.

Mawoyo scores maiden Test ton

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Opener Tino Mawoyo hit an unbeaten maiden Test century to guide Zimbabwe to 314/5 against Pakistan at lunch on the second day of the one-off Test at Queens Sports Club.

Playing in his second Test, Mawoyo resumed from his overnight score of 82 after batting through the first day, nervously reaching his ton on a day in which he played the spinner Saeed Ajmal better and showed good footwork.

He was unbeaten on 117 having faced 362 balls. His fifth-wicket partnership of 94 with Craig Ervine gave Zimbabwe the foundation to put on a competitive first-innings score in good batting conditions.

Ervine was out a single run away from his maiden Test half-century, being caught and bowled by Junaid Khan off a rising delivery.

Zim off to a steady start

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe got off to a steady start against Pakistan in their one-off Test at Queens Sports Club here Thursday by scoring 74 for the loss of one wicket at lunch.

Vusi Sibanda made 45 of those with a mix of solid defence and some carefree shots. He was caught by Umar Akmal off Saeed Ajmal a few minutes before the break. Ajmal's guile and turn promises much for the tourists in the mid-session.

Tinotenda Mawoyo has seen the session through, clearly determined not to lose his wicket. But Masakadza looked uncomfortable in his short stay at the crease so far.

The wicket of Sibanda came as great relief to Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq after he had put the Zimbabweans in when winning the toss. He was beginning to doubt the wisdom of his decision, which is unusual on this ground.

His seamers Cheema, Sohail Khan and Juniad Khan had toiled without success against the openers, whose opening partnership of 71 was the highest by Zimbabwe against Pakistan.

At one stage Mawoyo and Sibanda dug so deep they didn't score for 38 successive balls with the score on 30.

Ul Haq stuck to his seamers for 16 overs but the mood changed with the introduction of Saeed Ajmal. He immediately put the Zimbabwean pair in difficulties, turning the ball both ways and getting bounce.

They are undoubtedly conscious of the fact that their tail is rather long, beginning with Raymond Price at number eight.

Mawoyo and Masakadza can be expected to continue defiance rather than any aggression after the break.

Pakistan test looms for Zimbabwe

Harare – Having negotiated the first hurdle in their campaign to justify Test nation status by beating Bangladesh in a one-off Test two weeks ago, Zimbabwe now face a much higher fence on Thursday - Pakistan.

The single Test match, which starts Thursday, will be followed by three ODI's and two Twenty-20s.

Zimbabwe was granted a return to Test cricket by the ICC last year after a gap of six years. They had been obliged to field a weak side following a strike of nearly all their professionals and two consequent Test defeats by an innings and more than 200 runs.

Withdrawal from Tests was inevitable and those years have been used to rebuild. With just what success is now under the microscope with three successive tours - by Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan and in October/November New Zealand.

These opponents are considered by the ICC to be ones a nascent Zimbabwe can best cope with.

The new Zimbabweans got off to a good start two weeks ago in beating Bangladesh by 130 runs and then by 3-2 in an ODI series.

Now they are called upon to move up a big step. Pakistan will inevitably start favourites, even though there appears to be continuing discord in their camp.

Coach Waqar Younis suddenly declared his resignation last year with the Zimbabwe tour his intended last.

And Pakistan will also not have Shahid Afridi on the tour as he has said he will not work with Younis, nor with the present executive.

They were also in dressing room disorder here in 1995 when they lost to Zimbabwe by an innings, with Grant Flower, the present batting coach, scoring an undefeated 201.

However, their overall record is perhaps the one to be taken most account of. Pakistan have won eight of the 14 played, with two defeats. Their last encounter was in 1992 when Pakistan won both Tests, by 119 runs and by 10 wickets.

Earlier this year they broke even 1-1 in a West Indies series, also winning one and drawing one against New Zealand.

Pakistan have rested Umar Gull, Wahib Riaz and Abdur Rehman on this tour, bringing back Imran Farhat, Adnan Akmal and Sohail Tanveer. They introduce Ramiz Raja, Yasir Shah and Aizaz Cheema.

Zimbabwe are expecting seamer Brian Vitori back after a leg muscle strain. But he still needs to prove fitness. He had two five wicket hauls against Bangladesh and is their key strike bowler.

Pakistan squad:

Misbah-ul-haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufic Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Rameez Raja Jnr, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saeed Asmal, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanveer, Ramiz Raja, Yasir Shah, Aizaz Cheema.

Zimbabwe have not yet formally released names in their squad but the team will be selected from:

Brendan Taylor (capt), Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Forbes Mtizwa, Craig Ervine, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarivis, Raymond Price, Christopher Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori.