Zimbabwe v Pakistan Second Test

Day 1:

Preview

Zimbabwe go into the Second Test at Harare Sports Club facing stronger opposition than in Bulawayo. It is reported that Pakistan have Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed fit, although Aamer Sohail is still not playing. Saqlain Mushtaq, however, is out with an injured finger. Zimbabwe are without Paul Strang, who chipped a finger while fielding in Bulawayo.

The weather is hot and sunny, although there is quite a bit of white cloud around. There has been a lot of rain during the past week, though, and the pitch has soaked up a bit of moisture. Alistair Campbell has won the toss and, as in Bulawayo, decided to brave possible difficult conditions and bat first. Gavin Rennie is back to open with Grant Flower; he has the ability to deserve the position, but his confidence took a knock in New Zealand and it will be a stern test for him.

Lunch Day 1

Zimbabwe 72/1 (G Flowerr 37*, Goodwin 16*).

Zimbabwe enjoyed a steady morning session, with Gavin Rennie staying usefully for over an hour to provide Zimbabwe with a sound start, along with Grant Flower. On a heavy outfield after much rain during the past week, runs were slow to come by, and only two shots actually reached the boundary. Murray Goodwin settled in slowly but soundly, and there were few scares, apart from a fine leg-glance by Goodwin that just avoided the keeper.

It is difficult to comment on the bowling from our position at long leg, but Wasim Akram beat the bat on a few occasions and Mushtaq Ahmed bowled well, bamboozling Rennie at times. The fielding has not been of top quality, and several misfields have given away runs.

Tea

Zimbabwe 159/7 (G Whittall 3*, B Strang 4*).

A mixture of incompentence and pure stupidity helped to catapult Zimbabwe towards disaster just before tea this afternoon. Zimbabwe were cruising well at 142 for two when four wickets fell in just 11 balls, and a fifth before the interval.

Zimbabwe became bogged down for a while after lunch, with Goodwin actually going 50 minutes before playing his first scoring shot, a leg glance for 4. By then he had lost Grant Flower, going for the drive rather uncharacteristically and edging a catch to the keeper. With Campbell looking good, flattering only to deceive as so often, he reached his fifty before the collapse started.

Goodwin used his feet well against the spinners, and it seemed as if Campbell thought it a good idea, although that is not his usual style. He moved down the pitch to Mushtaq, but pushed at the ball and sent a catch straight to short cover. Andy Flower followed, given out lbw by umpire Randell when pushing forward, although television replays appeared to show him outside the line of the off stump and playing a genuine stroke.

At this stage, when consolidation was needed, Goodwin tried to pull a short ball and holed out on the midwicket boundary. The batsmen crossed, and Guy Whittall played the next ball towards the same boundary. The batsmen took one, and the inexperienced Trevor Madondo, who had not faced a ball, turned for a second despite Whittall's call of ``No,'' and was run out by half the length of the pitch. Four wickets had fallen in 11 balls.

Heath Streak stayed briefly, before sparring a ball at slip, and Bryan Strang, the first of Zimbabwe's three number eleven batsmen, held out until tea. But the prospect of Zimbabwe reaching even 200 now seem as remote as that of saving the match.

Goodwin: 50 off 77 balls, 123 min, 9 fours.

Close of play

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 18/0 (Saeed Anwat 9*, Ali Naqvi 6*).

A totally unexpected record Test eighth-wicket partnership boosted the Zimbabwe total in the final session and gave the home side's bowlers at least something to bowl against.

A correction to the last report -- it was actually home umpire Russell Tiffin who controversially adjudged Andy Flower lbw. There was also a strange decision by the umpires who reduced the Zimbabwe total by one run; they decided to discount the single completed by Whittall and Madondo in the afternoon session before Madondo's run-out. The reasoning was that they did not consider the first run to have been completed, but it is inexplicable how they reached that conclusion, since there was no signal of one short. The matter is currently under discussion with the match referee. Both incidents have been animated talking points this evening.

In the meantime, a fine partnership, Zimbabwe's first in Tests for the eighth wicket, between Guy Whittall and Bryan Strang saved the team's faces temporarily, at least. Whittall's skills are well known, but he has been out of form and this was his first Test fifty since his double-century in Bulawayo six Tests ago. The real surprise was tail-ender Bryan Strang, he of the rustic technique but good eye and great heart. He gave nothing away and played some unexpectedly fine strokes, reaching a maiden Test fifty ahead of Whittall. He then prodded an easy caught-and-bowled off a leading edge to the second new ball; next ball, Adam Huckle was castled by a superb leg-cutter and Waqar Younis was on a hat-trick.

Pommy Mbangwa is a man most bowlers would be quite happy to see coming in to face a possible hat-trick, although he has the potential to do much better than his dismal batting record shows. Waqar tried his leg-stump yorker, overpitched it slightly, and Mbangwa was able to edge it down towards fine leg for two. Whittall then hit three superb successive fours of Wasim Akram -- a leg glide, a vicious pull and a slash over cover -- before steering a ball straight to gully.

Pakistan saw out the day without difficulty, but were denied a four when the umpires declined to consult the third umpire about a boundary which should have been called, with the fielder touching the rope, but was denied. Whittall, it is believed, suffered similarly during his innings.

50 details: Strang 79 balls, 107 min, 1 six, 5 fours. Whittall 84 balls, 133 min, 10 fours.

Day 2

Preview

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 17/0 (Saeed Anwat 8*, Ali Naqvi 6*).

On what looks like being another clear day, Zimbabwe will be looking to repeat their Bulawayo performance, although they have fewer runs on the baord in the absence of anybody's ability to emulate Grant Flower's innings down there, even Grant Flower. They will need to bowl Pakistan out reasonably cheaply to give themselves a fighting chance, but it is unlikely -- although by no means impossible -- that Pakistan will succumb so easily again.

Further questions have been asked of the umpires concerning their cancellation of a run in Zimbabwe's innings yesterday. Guy Whittall, it may be recalled, hit a ball out to midwicket and took a single. Trevor Madondo failed to ``stop, look or listen'', and set off for a second, to be run out by half the length of the pitch. The umpires claim, with a reasoning nobody else can fathom, that he was not attempting a second run, therefore the first did not count; they have not provided any alternative explanation for Madondo's leaving his crease after fairly competing the first run. Neither have they answered the question of how a run completed by both batsmen can be cancelled. The scorers and I both believe that they know they have made a mistake but are not prepared to admit it. I have asked them to refer the incident to the ICC for a definite ruling. I can recall an instance in the Oval Test of 1966 when West Indian David Holford was run out under identical circumstances, but the first run was still counted.

Lunch Day 2

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 70/3 (Mohammad Wasim 19*, Yousuf Youhana 7*).

Zimbabwe continue to surprise -- or perhaps it is Pakistan who are surprising, as their batsmen are again proving incapable of mastering a disciplined but not dangerous Zimbabwe bowling attack, backed by tight fielding.

Zimbabwe did drop two catches in the slips, Ali Naqvi and Inzamam-ul-Haq, by Guy and Andrew Whittall respectively, but neither took advantage of their escapes. Andrew Whittall has been substituting for Grant Flower, who has split another finger. Early on, Heath Streak and Pommy Mbangwa several times beat the bat outside off stump, but nearly an hour passed before Guy Whittall came to the bowling crease to perform his usual trick. He quickly nipped a ball in to Saeed Anwar to trap him leg before wicket. Ali Naqvi again found it impossible to score quickly, and he too fell to Whittall, snicking a ball that moved away to Andy Flower.

Inzamam came in looking determined to master the bowlers but, apart from a superb flick for six over long leg, did not look in top form. He scored a single from his let-off in the slips, and then tried to drive the immaculate Bryan Strang over the sightscreen. He succeeded only in lofting a massive skyer, which the bowler eventually took, hardly having to move. Mohammad Wasim, apart from two successive fours off Mbangwa, has done little more than scratch around at the crease, while Yousuf Youhana, after taking a long time to settle in, hit a 2 and a 4 in the final over before lunch, bowled by Streak. These two are holding the fort at lunchtime.

Tea Day 2

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 109/4 (Mohammad Wasim 42*, Moin Khan 10*).

Crowds at Test cricket in Harare have grown steadily over the past few years, but they are not likely to keep returning for the sort of cricket Pakistan have been serving up this afternoon. 39 runs in a session, with only one wicket lost, does the tourists no credit at all.

Zimbabwe were partly responsible, keeping up their disciplined bowling and tight fielding, but are perhaps a little too content with keeping the batsmen quiet. The accurate seamers Pommy Mbangwa and Bryan Strang have certainly done that, but leg-spinner Adam Huckle must be wondering what he is in the team for.

The one wicket to fall has been that of Yousuf Youhana, who perhaps became impatient as he flashed at a ball from Mbangwa to be caught at the wicket. Mohammad Wasim has plodded along, scoring 23 runs in the two-hour session, with a couple of narrow escapes: on 28 he lobbed a ball just clear of cover fielder Rennie, and on 35 slashed one just wide of the slips. Moin Khan has been even slower, scoring at a rate of less than a run an over, but Zimbabwe should have had him when 6, as Alistair Campbell dropped a chance in the slips.

Visiting reporter Qamar Ahmed says that Pakistan's main problem is their lack of an experienced class batsman such as Saleem Malik to stabilise the middle order. Certainly the innings is going nowhere at the moment, and one side certainly needs to seize the initiative if the Harare public are to be encouraged to support Test cricket.

Tea Day 2

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 190/8 (Mohammad Wasim 96*, Mushtaq Ahmed 0*).

The patient Harare crowd duly got some excitement in the final session, and it was the sort of excitement they wanted. Pakistan, bogged down, lost wickets quickly, and Zimbabwe look set to take yet another first-innings lead over Pakistan. They will be wanting to turn a lead into a victory for a change. Had they held all their catches, they would have dismissed Pakistan completely by now.

Mohammad Wasim crawled to his fifty soon after tea, taking 207 minutes, and in the same over Bryan Strang broke through by bowling the strokeless Moin Khan through the gate, removing his leg stump with a fine delivery. Azhar Mahmood looked set to play his shots, but he had a lucky escape when he turned a ball hard straight at Gavin Rennie at short leg, the sort of catch that either sticks or doesn't.

Then came the excitement. First Azhar off-drove powerfully, and Guy Whittall dived low at deepish mid-off to hold an ankle-high chance. Next ball, new batsman Wasim Akram drove impulsively into the off side and Gavin Rennie ran quickly to his left to snatch a shoulder-high catch. Rashid Latif survived the hat-trick, and then a caught-and-bowled attempt by Heath Streak, the replay showing that the bowler had just taken it on the half-volley. In the next over, Zimbabwe at last had a chance to dismiss Wasim, but Pommy Mbangwa, who was cheered on throughout the session by a mainly white crowd, dropped a fairly straightforward return catch.

Streak soon had to leave the field, and the thought was that, as he had not been bowling well, Bryan Strang, of slower pace but a bowler who very much appreciates the new ball, should have shared the second one with Mbangwa anyway. When he replaced Streak, he quickly had Rashid caught at second slip by substitute Andrew Whittall.

This brought in Mushtaq Ahmed to partner Wasim, who is now close to his century. It certainly has not been a memorable innings, but he has shown great application and occasionally burst forth with a few good attacking strokes before retreating into his shell again. He has two tail-enders to nurse for as long as he is able, but Zimbabwe are favourites to take, once again, an unexpected lead over Pakistan.

Day 3:

Preview Day 3

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 190/8 (Mohammad Wasim 96*, Mushtaq Ahmed 0*).

Zimbabwe begin the crucial third day of this Test match in the unexpected position, for the second time in a week, of being on top against Pakistan. But they still have to consolidate their position, as they did in Bulawayo, and complete the job, which they were unable to do down there.

Their obvious objectives today will be, firstly, to take the last two Pakistani wickets quickly, and then build a good second-innings score. They have more time for that at their disposal than they had in Bulawayo. But their batting is always prone to collapses, so they should not be taking anything for granted.

Pakistan, for their part, are in the position of their legendary wounded tiger. Unless they have really lost their fighting spirit recently, and they are very different abroad than they are at home, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis will come out fired up and desperate to destroy the Zimbabwe second innings. They will know that, unless they can do that, they will be in dire danger of losing both the match and the series. Their batting, on their showing on this tour so far, cannot be trusted to tackle even a moderate target with confidence. Zimbabwe have established a good position, and it will require a major transformation by Pakistan, or else Zimbabwean incompetence, for Pakistan to win this match now.

Lunch Day 3

Zimbabwe 277; Pakistan 283/8 (Mohammad Wasim 152*, Mushtaq Ahmed 36*).

Yesterday Zimbabwe were expected to struggle, but they dominated the play. Today they were expected to wrap up the last two Pakistani wickets, but they failed to take a wicket at all, lost the first-innings lead and have decimated their chances of winning the match, after a disastrous morning session.

Zimbabwe's performance was mediocre rather than awful, but Pakistan reaped the rewards of a much more positive approach. Mohammad Wasim reached his second Test century off the third ball of the day, courtesy of a short ball from Pommy Mbangwa, which he pulled wide of mid-on for four. It had been a rather unimpressive innings yesterday, but he did stay there when no other Pakistani batsman passed 20, and the innings would have been in a sorry state without him. He looks set to score over half his team's eventual total, which he also did during his first Test century.

It was not a chanceless innings, and Zimbabwe have only themselves to blame for not wrapping up the innings yesterday. They have paid dearly for dropped catches this season. Another one was missed by Mbangwa, inexplicably fielding ten metres inside the square leg boundary. Wasim pulled a ball which cleared his head and landed inside the boundary; he was on 112 at the time. On 125 he was dropped by Alistair Campbell at first slip. Mushtaq frequently edged the ball through or past the slips, but looked so competent against uninspired bowling on a lifeless pitch that Wasim stopped trying to shield him. When on 23, he was given not out by umpire Tiffin for a bat-pad catch which the Zimbabweans appeared to believe genuine.

Both have looked thoroughly comfortable otherwise, and it looks a completely different ball game from yesterday's war of attrition which went in Zimbabwe's favour. The batsmen have added 95 together so far, a new record ninth-wicket partnership against Zimbabwe, beating the 79 scored by Brian McMillan and Allan Donald for South Africa on this ground in 1995/96. This has enabled their team to take an unexpected lead, and Zimbabwe will have to revise very smartly their plans to win the match. The odds in their favour have to be adjusted drastically after this morning.

Close of play Day 3

(No time was possible for a tea-time summary owing to problems with the scorecard.)

Zimbabwe 277 and 82/3 (Goodwin 25*, A Flower 25*); Pakistan 354.

Yesterday at this time, Pakistan had their backs to the wall; today there has been a complete turn-about, due to Zimbabwe's catching failures and a more positive Pakistani approach, and it is the home side who will have to struggle to avoid defeat.

Mohammad Wasim and Mushtaq Ahmed continued their rescue operation until after afternoon drinks. Mushtaq in particular enjoyed some luck, whatever the situation regarding the bat-pad appeal this morning, and several times skied the ball into open spaces clear of the fielders. But none of this would have happened had Zimbabwe taken those vital catches yesterday and this morning. Wasim also escaped three possible run-outs today, when fielders shied at the stumps and missed with him out of his ground.

Mushtaq eventually fell to a catch at first slip, and Waqar Younis hung around to try to help Wasim to his double-century. It was not to be, though, as a fierce off-drive was held low down by a diving Pommy Mbangwa, a much more difficult catch than the two he missed. An early tea was taken.

Zimbabwe were soon in dire trouble. Grant Flower, half-forward, fell lbw (Umpire Tiffin) and Gavin Rennie, short of confidence, gloved a catch to short leg. Alistair Campbell tried to rescue the situation rather more judiciously than in Bulawayo, but he was to be given out lbw by Umpire Randell, pad well down the pitch but playing no stroke. The Pakistani tails were right up, although not getting much pace out of the pitch, and they looked a different team from yesterday from start to finish.

In came Andy Flower to join Murray Goodwin, both hoping for a repeat of their heroics in Bulawayo. They duly survived without undue alarm, although not without frivolous appeals, until the close. Zimbabwe are effectively 5 runs on for the loss of four wickets, and face a long battle tomorrow.

Preview Day 4

Zimbabwe 277 and 82/3 (Goodwin 25*, A Flower 25*); Pakistan 354.

After two successive days which have seen the balance swing completely from one side to the other during the course of play, who can predict what today will bring? Zimbabwe are the team now on the back foot, in stark contrast to the situation 24 hours ago. At the crease are the two who rescued their second innings in Bulawayo, and Zimbabwe will be looking for them to do so again. A further batting slide could well see the match end today.

On the other hand, if Zimbabwe are able to effect a good recovery and set Pakistan over 200 to win, there could be a very good finish. The Pakistani upper order has shown little collective spirit on this tour so far, and they have constantly had to be rescued by the lower order. The sun is shining hotly, the wicket is flat, and both teams' batsmen have an ideal opportunity for long stays at the crease. It remains to be seen who, if any, can take advantage of the excellent batting conditions.

Lunch Day 4

Zimbabwe 277 and 82/3 (Goodwin 61*, G Whittall 15); Pakistan 354.

Although on the face of it a quiet session, this morning has really provided an absorbing struggle between the two teams. Zimbabwe have battled their way towards a position of immediate safety, while Pakistan have given little away in their efforts to break through.

Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower were not destined to challenge their record-breaking Bulawayo partnership, but they did stem the tide very effectively for most of the morning session. They batted with concentration and discipline, never indulging for a moment in extravagances, paying due regard to their team's difficult situation. It was excellent percentage cricket. Both are men of calm confidence and exude an air of stability at the crease.

Unlike in Bulawayo, Flower this time tended to be the dominant partner, keeping the score moving with greater freedom and every now and again playing his own individual and highly effective cover drive or sweep. He kept rotating the strike and relieving Goodwin of the pressure when he became bogged down at times. He was the one to go, however, just short of his fifty, playing forward to be caught at silly mid-off off bat and pad. Goodwin, looking more secure latterly, advanced past another fifty, and the scoring rate has actually increased with a positive-looking Guy Whittall at the crease.

NeitherWasim Akram nor Waqar Younis has been able to find any significant reverse swing today, although the batsmen have never been able to relax against their hostility. Mushtaq Ahmed has bowled virtually all morning, usually around the wicket aiming for the rough. The batsmen have capably used their pads as the only safe method to counter this tactic, while hitting the loose ball safely. It is vital for Zimbabwe that the middle order is able to continue to defy Pakistan in this manner for the rest of the day; Zimbabwe are still only 88 runs ahead, with six wickets left and a very fragile tail to come.

Tea Day 4

Zimbabwe 277 and 222/7 (Streak 11*, B Strang 13*); Pakistan 354.

Zimbabwe's stocks slumped somewhat during the afternoon session, with three vital wickets going down. Barring a further remarkable turnabout, no impossibility in this match, Zimbabwe appear to be sliding towards eventual defeat.

The slide started with the second ball after lunch, as Guy Whittall culpably driving without due care and attention edged a catch to the keeper. Guy is forgiven for most of his eccentricities, but this lapse in concentration will be harder than most. Trevor Madondo never looked comfortable, seemingly afraid to play his natural game, and failed to play a convincing stroke, as he had done in Bulawayo, before driving perhaps in desparation at Azhar Mahmood, again, and giving Rashid Latif another comfortable catch behind the wicket.

The big one came with the second new ball. Murray Goodwin had looked very solid, if a little slow, apart from when on 66 he lofted a ball over the covers and the sweeper out there, running forward, dropped a very difficult chance at ground level. Having passed the seventies, so often a danger area with him, Goodwin tried to cut a wide ball from Waqar Younis and, perhaps undone by extra pace and movement away, sliced a catch to first slip.

Heath Streak, looking very solid, and Bryan Strang, entitled to his confident strokes after his remarkable first-innings fifty, are holding the fort at tea. Still to come are Adam Huckle and Pommy Mbangwa, for both of whom a single in Test cricket is a rare event -- although they do have the potential to do better. The odds are that Zimbabwe's last three wickets will fall in a heap, leaving Pakistan with less than 200 to win -- but predictions in this match so far have proved futile.

Close of play Day 4

Zimbabwe 277 and 268; Pakistan 354 and 58/1 (Saeed Anwar 37*, Mohammad Wasim 8*).

There were no real changes of fortune today, and there will need to be something fairly sensational tomorrow to prevent Pakistan from running to their sixth victory in 10 matches against Zimbabwe. Rain seems highly unlikely, so the players themselves will have to provide it.

After tea, Heath Streak and Bryan Strang continued their valuable eighth-wicket partnership for Zimbabwe. They had added exactly 50 together before Strang tried to slog Mushtaq Ahmed across the line for six, and only succeeded in sending up a massive skyer to deepish midwicket. It was the last ball of the over and unwisely the batsmen crossed, taking Streak away from the strike. Predictably, contributions from the last two batsmen were negligible. Adam Huckle was bowled neck and crop first ball by Wasim, completing a 'king pair'. Pommy Mbangwa provided a little more resistance, but it was inexplicable and unnecessary for Wasim Akram to send him down a stream of short-pitched balls, all of which he fortunately avoided. When he finally bowled him a yorker, Mbangwa was immediately given out lbw by umpire Tiffin, although he was well forward and direction is surely impossible to predict after pitching. This left Streak stranded on a very good-looking 37.

This left Pakistan to make 192 to win, with 14 overs to be bowled before the close. Zimbabwe in the field seemed highly determined with a tinge of desperation. They took an early wicket when Azhar Mahmood, opening in place of Ali Naqvi who has twisted his ankle, was turned around by a delivery from Streak and edged to Alistair Campbell at second slip. But they missed a further opportunity with yet another dropped catch, Campbell putting down a sharp chance from Mohammad Wasim when he had 3. Poor catching has shot Zimbabwe in the foot. Had they caught as well as they did on Pakistan's previous tour three years ago, they might well have been close to wrapping up the game by now. Predictions are that the fat lady will do her solo at about lunchtime tomorrow.

Preview Day 5

Zimbabwe 277 and 268; Pakistan 354 and 58/1 (Saeed Anwar 37*, Mohammad Wasim 8*).

Test teams have been bowled out chasing targets of less than the 192 needed by Pakistan, but not against Zimbabwe yet. It will need either a remarkable performance by Zimbabwe or a disastrous collapse by Pakistan if a Pakistani victory is to be avoided. The former, unfortunately, is highly unlikely, as Zimbabwe do not yet have the self-belief to believe deep down they can do it, especially after the fiasco of the Colombo Test.

The Pakistani batting is another matter, after regularly poor performances on their African tour, but they should still be equal to the task. Barring shocks, the one question to be settled is the margin of victory. Zimbabwe, in their hearts, will be feeling that their one aim is to save some pride by taking as many wickets as possible and making it reasonably close. If they can quickly take the wicket of Saeed Anwar, in fine form last night, they may well be able to salvage some self-respect.

lunch Day 5

Zimbabwe 277 and 268; Pakistan 354 and 149/5 (Yousuf Youhana 24*, Ali Naqvi 8*).

Pakistan are moving steadily towards victory, to all appearances, despite a regular loss of wickets, as Zimbabwe have fought hard to salvage some pride from this match. The tourists require another 43 runs to win with five wickets in hand.

Zimbabwe were given an early bonus with an unnecessary run-out. Mohammad Wasim pulled a ball wide of mid-on and set off for a run, as Pommy Mbangwa ran round to field; it looked good for a quick run. However, Saeed Anwar disagreed and sent his partner back too late. Inzamam came in, but still looked barely a shadow of the great batsman without whom Pakistan would certainly have lost the Test series on their last visit here. He still tries to go for his strokes, but fatally stepped down the wicket to try to hit Huckle out of the ground, and was smartly stumped.

Saeed ran to his fifty shortly afterwards, which he reached off only 63 balls. But he was then out in similar fashion to Bulawayo, trying to clip a ball uppishly through midwicket and being smartly caught by the close fielder there. Yousuf Youhana and Moin Khan appeared to settle down, and the impression was that they were likely to take their team through to victory, when the return of Heath Streak had Moin fending loosely outside the off stump, to be caught at second slip.

Yousuf Youhana has appeared Pakistan's most stable batsman in this series, and his will now be the crucial wicket. With him is Ali Naqvi, complete with twisted ankle and runner. But the general feeling is that, had Zimbabwe only scored 50 runs more, they would have been able to make a real game of it.

End of match Day 5

Zimbabwe 277 and 268; Pakistan 354 and 192/7. Pakistan won by three wickets.

There was no air of excitement, rather inevitability, as Pakistan scraped home to an unconvincing victory over Zimbabwe. Without another determined innings by Yousuf Youhana, though, it might have been a different story.

Zimbabwe put everything they had into their play, but what they did lack was a real gut conviction that they could win. So they add yet another defeat with honour to their tally.

Pakistan lost two further wickets after lunch. Ali Naqvi tried to cut Adam Huckle, and was displeased to be given out by umpire Tiffin, caught at the wicket off an inside edge. Yousuf suddenly began to look more positive, at hit Huckle for 6 to reach 49. His next run was much less convincing, though: a rebound off the keeper from a bottom edge which just failed to carry on the full. Then, driving on the off side, he was well held in the gully, but by then only 6 more runs were needed. Wasim Akram kept trying to get them all in one stroke, but it was not to be easy even at this stage. Captain Rashid Latif eventually completed victory with a single to square leg.

Mohammad Wasim won the Man of the Match award, while Waqar Younis was considered to be the Man of the Series. Many thought Murray Goodwin should have got it, after three fine innings out of four, and several fine catches. But, in the end, Pakistan could never have won without the calm talents of Yousuf Youhana.

John Ward

Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)