Pakistan managed to wrest back control on the fourth day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Friday, helped by a double century by veteran Pakistani player Younis Khan.
According to the Daily Times, Younis hit 200 not out to enable Pakistan to declare on 419 for nine, setting Zimbabwe an unlikely 342 to win.
The report mentioned that the hosts were 13 for one at the close, losing opening batsman Tina Mawoyo in the last over of the day, leg before wicket to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took seven for 95 in the first innings and will be the main threat to Zimbabwe batsmen on the last day on a deteriorating pitch.
The report also said that Younis batted for 10 hours 12 minutes and faced 404 balls, steering his team away to safety with another century stand, the previous being with dismissed captain Misbah-ul Haq on Thursday, with wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, who made a career-best 64.
An unbroken last wicket partnership of 88 with Rahat Ali (35 not out) took the game away from a tiring Zimbabwe team, the report added.
Scoreboard
Pakistan — 1st innings: 249.
Zimbabwe — 1st innings: 327.
Pakistan — 2nd innings: 419 for nine decl.
Zimbabwe — 2nd innings: T. Mawoyo lbw b Ajmal 2, V. Sibanda lbw b Junaid 6, H. Masakadza c Azhar Ali b Junaid 1, S. Raza c Azhar Ali b Rehman 24, M. Waller c Rahat Ali b Rehman 17, E. Chigumbura c Hafeez b Rehman 28, R. Mutumbami (not out) 16, P. Utseya b Ajmal 0, S. Masakadza lbw b Ajmal 0, T. Panyangara lbw b Rehman 6, T. Chatara lbw b Ajmal 13, Extras (b-1, lb-5, nb-1): 7; Total (in 46.4 overs): 120.
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-14, 3-19, 4-49, 5-58, 6-89, 7-90, 8-90, 9-101.
Pakistan bowling: Junaid 10-3-20-2, Rahat 7-1-35-0, Ajmal 16.4-5-23-4, Rehman 13-5-36-4.
