Coca Cola Test, Day 5 in Bulawayo: Pakistan 466 (Hafeez 119, Lamb 3-120) and 88 for 3 (Hafeez 38) beat Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163, Cheema 4-79, Ajmal 4-143) and 141 (Taibu 58, Cheema 4-24, Hafeez 4-31) by seven wickets

Pakistan comfortably claimed a seven victory over Zimbabwe in the Coca-Cola Test match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday. Two players stood out in this competition, Tinotenda Mawoyo and Mohammed Hafeez, but it was the Pakistan all-rounder who walked away with the man-of-the-match award after a resounding bowling and batting performance.

The Tuskers wicket was a great track to bat on for the first two day days and Mawoyo, in a career best innings, was unbeaten for his 163 runs which he scored in a patient and yet gritty manner.  Zimbabwe was all out for 412 in their first innings on day two after losing toss and sent to bat. In reply Pakistan scored 466 giving them a 54 run lead.

“We were hopeful with the way the wicket started turning on the second and third day, we were sure if we bowled in the right channels, we would create pressure, and we got them cheaply in the end,” said Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, after Zimbabwe crumbled for 141 runs all out in the follow-on.

Hafeez led the visitors’ onslaught claiming four wickets for 31 runs in just 15 overs. But Tatenda Taibu (58) and Kyle Jarvis (25) had held ground for Zimbabwe taking a struggling batting unit till the first session of day five.  Pakistan had the easiest of tasks closing in on an 87 run target, scoring 88 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Pakistan is ranked sixth in the ICC Reliance rankings while Zimbabwe is still unrated and was out of Test cricket since 2005.Despite the result, Brendan Taylor the Zimbabwean skipper was impressed by his team’s performance and highlighted that there is still a great deal of work to be done. 

“Lot of credit should be given to Mawoyo, he was outstanding. We take a lot of positives from this match but majorly we still have to improve.

I think it was nerves followed by quality bowling that got the better of us. We let ourselves down a bit in the second innings, technically. Dropped catches did not help us and we lived to regret them, but all credits should be given to Pakistan," Taylor said.

The teams will play again on Thursday for a one-day international at Queens Sports Club.

Cricket365