Zimbabwe v Pakistan - Only Test at Bulawayo - Day 2

Mawoyo acknowledges his century

The promised shirt front at Queens Club in Bulawayo materialised further on the second day but that doesn't mean the performances haven't been commendable. Leading the way was Tino Mawayo, a former U19 captain of his country whose appearances for Zimbabwe have been limited by more than their exclusion from Test ranks. A dedicated young man, he put his education ahead of cricket in an act of concentrated vigilance and self improvement. He showed no less with the bat in his hands in an innings which spanned nearly ten hours and saw him carry his bat as Zimbabwe topped 400 for the first time in eight seasons. Mawoyo became only the third man to carry his bat for Zimbabwe, the last being Grant Flower on this same ground in 1998. Interestingly, all three instances have been against Pakistan.The last time Zimbabwe scored 400 plus, six batsmen scored half centuries, with Sean Irvine topping the bill with 86. 

Craig Irvine

The opposition here was much sterner than the Bangers they mashed back then in Harare and it was Irvine's younger brother Craig who helped them on their way on the second day. He carried his overnight partnership with Mawoyo to 94 before miscuing an attempted flick down the leg side and sending a leading edge back to bowler Junaid Khan, who claimed his first Test wicket. Greg Lamb then set himself and batted for two and half hours adding 95 for the sixth wicket before becoming Ajmal's fourth victim. Lamb is another Zimabwean whose entry into Test cricket has been delayed until his thirties.

The rest fell in an inspired eight over spell to end the innings by another pensioner on debut, Aizaz Cheema. Aged nearly 32, he cleaned out the tail including the two spectacular dismissals of Kyle Jarvis and Chris Mpofu, both bowled.

Hafeez & Ali added 108 unbeaten

Taufeeq Umar fell early, lbw to Jarvis with a ball that was marginal in its pitching in the leg stump region and Zimbabwe were cock a hoop. Mohammad Hafeez soon put that to rights with a blazing 79 by stumps which was peppered with fifteen 4's and a Steve Waugh special, a flat slog sweep over midwicket from Lamb. Where Mawoyo had been circumspect, Hafeez was exuberant and with Azhar Ali pushing singles to keep Hafeez on strike, Pakistan had rocketed to 116 at four an over by the close. Only Jarvis and the cunning slow left arm Greek orthodox of Rice Price avoided the Hafeez treatment, possibly because they kept Ali on strike.

With a strong Pakistani batting line up and the pitch still like playing like the F3 after a nuclear war, there will fireworks at Queens Club tomorrow.