By Geoffrey Dean
MURRAY GOODWIN followed his 166 not out in Bulawayo with a fourth Test fifty yesterday in only his sixth Test. Adept against both pace and spin, he looks to have a big future.
Goodwin's dismissal for 53 came in the middle of a remarkable collapse before tea, when Zimbabwe slipped from 142 for two to 153 for seven. Equally remarkable was a record Zimbabwean eighth-wicket partnership of 110 between Guy Whittall and Bryan Strang.
Nor could Mushtaq find much turn as Strang, deputising for his injured brother, Paul, drove him for two straight fours and a six on his way to a maiden Test fifty.
Day 4: Zimbabwe take heart
By Geoffrey Dean in Harare
DENNIS STREAK, national selector and father of Heath, thinks that more than half the Zimbabwe team will be black in seven years time.
As they slipped towards a fifth consecutive Test defeat yesterday, it was heartening, then, from a local viewpoint to see the enthusiasm and, in some cases, surprising talent of the scores of black schoolchildren who have played 'quick-cricket' on the outfield during every lunch break in this match.
A target of 192 should present few problems to Pakistan on a flat pitch that has offered little turn to the wrist-spinners. Their seamers, unable to obtain much movement with the older ball, were made to work hard for their wickets but persevered manfully.
Zimbabwe, 82 for three overnight, started the fourth day well, losing just one wicket before lunch when Andy Flower fell to a bat-pad catch. But inroads were quickly made into the late middle order as Guy Whittall and Trevor Madondo were out to loose drives.
Everything now depended on Murray Goodwin, who had reached a fifth fifty in this his sixth Test, and he applied himself impressively for nearly six hours. The extra bounce of the second new ball eventually undid him when he top-edged to first slip.
Some spirited hitting from Streak, who hooked Wasim Akram in front of square for four and drove Mushtaq Ahmed for six, at least gave Zimbabwe something to bowl at. But Saeed Anwar was soon driving and glancing with silky authority, undeterred by the loss of Azhar Mahmood. Pressed into opening after Ali Naqvi twisted an ankle, he was caught at second slip.
Day 5: Pakistan ease home
By Geoffrey Dean
PAKISTAN clinched the series 1-0 in Harare yesterday, winning the second Test with greater ease than the three-wicket margin suggests.
They did their best to keep Zimbabwe in the match by gifting wickets whenever the outcome seemed a formality.
Resuming on 58 for one, Pakistan tried an ultra-positive approach, but at times were overly carefree. After Mohammad Waseem was needlessly run out, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar sacrificed themselves. Saeed's 65 came off 89 balls before Andy Whittall brilliantly caught him at mid-wicket.
That left Pakistan 105 for four and gave Zimbabwe just a sniff but they were let down by loose bowling. They decided not to use medium-pacers Bryan Strang and Pommi Mbangwa, who had strangled the Pakistani batting in the first innings. Instead, they went with their three attacking bowlers, who bowled too many bad balls.
Yousaf Youhana profited to make his third fifty in four innings before giving it away with victory in sight.