Zimbabwe v Pakistan - Only Test at Bulawayo - Day 1

Tino Mawoyo driving

There were plenty of new faces at the Queens Club Ground in Bulawayo, as Zimbabwe started well against Pakistan in only their second match since resuming Test cricket after a six year break. Their first, in early August, was a solid win against Bangladesh in which captain Brendan Taylor starred with the bat, making his first Test century and the bowlers did their work efficiently. It marked a celebration of sorts that cricket really was in post John Howard mode, as Zimbabwe's return would have been further into the future had the former PM's avarice extended to a position on the ICC Executive. 

Pakistan, despite the absence of Wahab Riaz and Abdur Rehman from their bowling line up, have still selected a strong side for this one off Test  which will be followed by the obligatory ODI's and T20.

It was a gritty day of Test cricket with sessions of 74, 88 and 83 and through it all Tino Mawoya stood resolute against the visitor's attack. After adding 71 with Vusi Sibanda for the first wicket, he also shared in stands of 65 with the experienced Tatenda Taibu and he and Craig Ervine added 69 unbeaten to stumps. His innings was chanceless and cautious, not finding the boundary until the 37th over but it was the rock Zimbabwe needed to build around whilst Sibanda, Taibu and Ervine acted as the aggressors. Sibanda in particular with nine 4's in his 45 went after the quicks before being deceived by an Ajmal doosra and left walking up the pitch to defend a ball that wasn't there. Taibu was his usual effervescent self at the crease, being particularly harsh on the 32 year old debutante Iazaz Cheema and Ervine blossomed in the last session.

Tatenda Taibu aggressive as always

Saeed Ajmal was his usual deceptive self, threatening to rip through the middle order and the left arm quick Junaid Khan - another debutante - bowled tightly by stacking up maidens and putting the batsmen under pressure. Adnan Akmal, who has replaced his brother Kamran for this tour, was impressive behind the stumps with a smart stumping. If influences can keep out of his wallet, he might be the solution to a problem which has festered behind the sticks for Pakistan in the last five seasons.

An even day on a belter of a pitch. The Queens Club deck is usually a batting paradise and this looks no different but you would expect Pakistan to eventually prevail despite the experience in the hosts bowling line up. Still, Zimbabwe have made a good start and a Mawoyo century would be a just reward.