Five-star Nauman puts Pakistan on verge of Test series sweep
Pakistan were thwarted by bad light on Sunday, one wicket short of a second successive innings win against Zimbabwe, but could afford to start contemplating a clean sweep of series wins on their southern Africa tour.
Despite a fighting innings by Regis Chakabva on the third day of the second and final Test at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe were 220 for nine in their followon innings at the close, 158 runs short of making Pakistan bat again.
“It would be a great win for us tomorrow (Monday) as we will end both tours with wins in all series,” said left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, who took five for 86 in the second innings.
Pakistan won two white-ball series in South Africa before winning a Twenty20 series in Zimbabwe ahead of the Test matches. Chakabva scored 80 as Zimbabwe made their highest total of a series in which they have been outclassed. The wicketkeeperbatsman followed up his top score of 33 in the first innings by making his team’s only half-century in the two matches.
But his dismissal started a collapse in which six wickets fell for 35 runs.
“It’s a very disappointing situation to find ourselves in, in both Test matches actually,” said Chikabva.
“Pakistan have good bowlers. They’re very skilful but it’s disappointing that on a good batting track we didn’t apply ourselves the way we should have.”
Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali continued his mastery over Zimbabwe’s batsmen, taking a career-best five for 27 as the host nation were bowled out for 132 in the first innings.
Hasan, man of the match after taking nine for 89 when Pakistan won the first Test by an innings and 116 runs at the same venue, went wicketless in the second innings but conceded only nine runs in ten overs. Nauman and left-arm
K. Kasuza b H Ali
T. Musakanda lbw b T Khan R. Chakabva c Abid Ali b H Ali
B. Taylor c M Rizwan b S Afridi M. Shumba lbw b S Khan T. Chisoro c I Butt b H Ali L. Jongwe b H Ali D. Tiripano c sub (S Shakeel) b S Khan R. Kaia c Azhar Ali b H Ali
R. Ngarava not out
B. Muzarabani run out (I Butt)
(b4, lb3, w1)
1-0 (Musakanda), 2-23 (Kasuza), 3-40 (Taylor), 4-49 (Shumba), 5-53 (Chisoro), 6-68 (Chakabva), 7-77 (Jongwe), 8-108 (Tiripano), 9-110 (Kaia)
Shaheen Afridi 14-4-34-1 (1w), Tabish Khan 15-8-22-1, Hasan Ali 13-4-27-5, N
fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took four for 45, were the wicket-takers in the second innings. —