-Harare Test, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
Sports Desk
Harare: Fawad Alam raced to his fourth Test century as Pakistan gained a commanding position with a 198-runs lead against Zimbabwe in the opening Test.
Fawad stood firm throughout the day and remained not out for 108 runs off 155 balls, his third century since his comeback in 2020 after waiting for 10 years. Pakistan were 374-6 at Stump on Day 2 with Fawad and Hasan Ali who scored 21 off 18 balls with the help of a boundary and two sixes.
The Left-handed batsman joined the crease after skipper Babar Azam got out unluckily. He took the responsibility quite well and helped Pakistan add 99 more runs at the end of the second session.
Rizwan supported him strongly but managed to score just 45 runs laced with four boundaries before falling to Blessing Muzarabani.
Pakistan suffered a dent at the the start of second session, losing veteran Azhar Ali and skipper Babar. Donald Tiripano had the better of both the batters in his two consecutive overs.
Azhar scored 36 off 70 balls with the help of five fours while Babar dismissed for the first time on a golden duck. Opener Imran Butt continued to build Pakistan’s lead and accelerated with Fawad. Imran couldn’t sustain pressure and fell victim to nervous nineties as he edged one to the keeper of debutant Richard Ngarava. Imran in his 236 ball innings, scored 91 with the help of seven fours.
Earlier, Pakistan managed to score 59 runs in the first session and were 162/1 at Lunch. They started the proceedings cautiously and scored only 13 runs in the first 16 overs of the day, however, they improved the run-rate in the latter part of the session, scoring 46 in the next 16.
Zimbabwe had their first breakthrough when set batter Abid Ali edge one to skipper Brendan Taylor off Tendai Chisoro in the 45th over.
Tiripano bagged three wickets while Chisoro, Ngarava, Muzarabani shared a wicket apiece for Zimbabwe.
Note, Pakistan dismissed Zimbabwe for 176 yesterday courtesy of Shaheen Shah and Hasan Ali, who claimed four wickets each.
