HARARE: Younis Khan’s unbeaten knock of 200 runs helped Pakistan to set the target of 342 runs for Zimbabwe on fourth day at Harare stadium.
At the start of day Zimbabwe had hopes of victory. As Pakistan were 90 ahead and four down, and Tendai Chatara bowled Asad Shafiq in the first over.
Younis, however, found reliable company in Adnan Akmal, whose career-best 64 was the larger contribution in their 118-run partnership that swung the Test.
Zimbabwe had an early opportunity too, but they were left wondering what could have been if only they had taken it. On 83, in the first half-hour, off the first ball of the 76th over bowled by Hamilton Masakadza, Younis slashed and edged. Tino Mawoyo was not low enough at first slip, and the ball scurried between his legs.
Younis did not play another rash shot but soon began to score more briskly, while Akmal broke stretches of defence with the occasional boundary, including a reverse sweep.
The wicket, when it finally came, was via a run-out. No other mode of dismissal seemed likely and even this error was out of the blue. The partnership had taken the lead beyond 200.
Pakistan had only scored 51 between lunch and tea and so when four wickets fell in a clutch - three to Prosper Utseya - Zimbabwe could have limited their target to around 250. Their bowlers, however, were wearing and Younis, batting with the last man Rahat Ali, began to open up. After passing 150, he began to slog sweep to the boundary and play the reverse of that shot too. And once he realised Rahat was making clean contact, striking several blows to and over the boundary, he didn't bother with farming strike.
Misbah-ul-Haq signalled from the dressing room that Younis had one more over to score 200.
Three balls later Younis mowed one over the midwicket boundary and left the field with arms raised in triumph. His last-wicket stand of 88 with Rahat had set Zimbabwe a target of 342.
The day, which had begun so promisingly, got worse for Zimbabwe. Their openers survived seven of the remaining eight overs unscathed but Saeed Ajmal spun one into Tino Mawoyo's pads, trapping him plumb in front. Ajmal now has eight wickets in the Test, and has nine more tomorrow from which he can swell his tally.
At the start of day Zimbabwe had hopes of victory. As Pakistan were 90 ahead and four down, and Tendai Chatara bowled Asad Shafiq in the first over.
Younis, however, found reliable company in Adnan Akmal, whose career-best 64 was the larger contribution in their 118-run partnership that swung the Test.
Zimbabwe had an early opportunity too, but they were left wondering what could have been if only they had taken it. On 83, in the first half-hour, off the first ball of the 76th over bowled by Hamilton Masakadza, Younis slashed and edged. Tino Mawoyo was not low enough at first slip, and the ball scurried between his legs.
Younis did not play another rash shot but soon began to score more briskly, while Akmal broke stretches of defence with the occasional boundary, including a reverse sweep.
The wicket, when it finally came, was via a run-out. No other mode of dismissal seemed likely and even this error was out of the blue. The partnership had taken the lead beyond 200.
Pakistan had only scored 51 between lunch and tea and so when four wickets fell in a clutch - three to Prosper Utseya - Zimbabwe could have limited their target to around 250. Their bowlers, however, were wearing and Younis, batting with the last man Rahat Ali, began to open up. After passing 150, he began to slog sweep to the boundary and play the reverse of that shot too. And once he realised Rahat was making clean contact, striking several blows to and over the boundary, he didn't bother with farming strike.
Misbah-ul-Haq signalled from the dressing room that Younis had one more over to score 200.
Three balls later Younis mowed one over the midwicket boundary and left the field with arms raised in triumph. His last-wicket stand of 88 with Rahat had set Zimbabwe a target of 342.
The day, which had begun so promisingly, got worse for Zimbabwe. Their openers survived seven of the remaining eight overs unscathed but Saeed Ajmal spun one into Tino Mawoyo's pads, trapping him plumb in front. Ajmal now has eight wickets in the Test, and has nine more tomorrow from which he can swell his tally.
