By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 4: Murray Goodwin scored fourth first-class century (148) of his career to steer Zimbabwe to an imposing first-innings total of 315 for 7 on the opening day of the four-day match against Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) at the Qadhafi Stadium on Friday.
Had the Test-discard Salim Malik, leading the LCCA side, not taken three important wickets (including that of Goodwin) within the space of 16 runs, the visitors would have put up a much bigger total. Wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat did brilliant work behind the stumps, catching out five batsmen.
When opener Grant Flower (24 in 67 minutes with four fours) was out to a low, diving catch by Humayun Farhat off a little short, while lifting inswinger by Shamim Abbas at the total of 38, the LCCA skipper's decision to put in Zimbabwe to bat at the green-top pitch seemed to have paid off.
But Goodwin and opener Gavin Rennie put on 136 runs for the second-wicket partnership in 113 minutes to blunt the LCCA attack and put Zimbabwe on road to a good total.
Babar Zaman Khan (son of former DTMC chairman Javed Zaman Khan and son-in-law of PCB chief executive Majid Khan), who has recently switched over from bowling fast to off-break bowling, clean bowled Rennie to break the prospering second wicket stand. Rennie tried to sweep Babar Zaman's delivery, missed the line completely and was bowled neck-and crop for a well-played knock of 55. During his 181-minute stay at the crease, Rennie hit eight elegant boundaries.
Goodwin found another good partner in Alistair Campbell (45 not out with one six and four boundaries) and both added 95 valuable runs in 85 minutes to take the Zimbabwe total to 269. At that stage, Salim Malik bowled his magical spell to destroy the middle-order batting. His first victim was none else but Goodwin. The No 3 batsman Goodwin off-drove and cover-drove the ball with grace and swept majestically during the first two sessions but fell to Salim Malik. The LCCA skipper mixed his leg-breaks with his off-breaks and finally claimed Goodwin. The batsman forced Salim's leg-break uppishly through the covers but Fareed Butt held a fine, low catch. Goodwin sent the ball to the ropes 23 times during his 199-minute stay at the crease.
Hardly ten scores had been added to the total when the experienced Andy Flower (1) was caught by Humayun Farhat off Salim Malik. The most consistent Zimbabwean batsman during this tour, Neil Johnson (5 with one boundary), was also caught byHumayun Farhat off Salim Malik.
Hasnain Kazim struck two blows in closing stages of the match. Incidentally, on both occasions Humayun Farhat took catches behind the stumps. Wishart (1) and Huckle (4) were the victims. Hasnain gave away 57 runs for his two scalp. Salim Malik took three for 58.
Campbell (45) and Andrew Whittal (11) remained not out.
Day 2: Zimbabwe still lead LCCA by 206 runs
By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 5: Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) still needed 206 runs with six wickets in hand to overhaul Zimbabwe's first innings total of 394 all out at stumps on the second day of the four-day cricket match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
LCCA scored 188 for four in 64 overs. Tariq Mahmood athis personal score of 28 (including six boundaries) and Fareed Butt at 10 will resume the LCCA first innings on third morning of this side match on Sunday.
Resuming the first innings at the overnight score of 315 for seven, Zimbabwe went on to hit a handsome total of 394 before losing the remaining three wickets. Overnight not out batsmen captain Alistair Campbell and Andrew Whittal added 60 runs for the eighth wicket in 69 minutes to further consolidate the Zimbabwe innings. The partnership was finally broken by the most successful LCCA bowler, skipper Salim Malik, when Andrew Whittal (38 in 69 minutes with ix fours) was caught by Zaheer Khan at point. Whittal tried to square-cut a short-pitch delivery but failed to execute the shot properly. The eighth wicket fell at the total of 252.
Campbell's fine knock came to an end at the total of 374. The Zimbabwe skipper could not middle a half-volley from the right-arm leg-spinner Imran Farhat and Babar Zaman held an easy catch at covers. Campbell stayed at the crease in 181 minutes and hit seven fours and a big six in his patient knock of 71.
Salim Malik wound up the Zimbabwe innings when he had Mbangwa leg before wicket for his individual score of 21. On a straight delivery from the LCCA skipper, the last man Mbangwa went half-forward, was completely beaten and declared lbw. Slim Malik took five wickets for 77.
LCCA began the reply to Zimbabwe in a confident manner when openers Babar Zaman and Imran Farhat put on 88 runs for the first wicket partnership in 104 minutes. Babar scored 46 and collected most of his six fours through hooks. He hooked Mbangwa for a huge six and also repeated the shot to get a four. Babar tried to drive a leg-break from Huckle, mistimed his shot and offered an easy catch to the bowler.
Shahid Anwar contributed 15 (including a six and a four) before being caught by Rennie off Grant Flower, who emerged as the most successful bowler for Zimbabwe. The second LCCA wicket fell at the total of 117.
Top-scorer Imran Farhat hit a polished knock of 76 which included 15 exquisitely-timed boundaries. He stayed at the crease for 172 minutes. Imran was caught by wicket keeper Andy Flower off his brother Grant Flower. He tried to cut a rising ball from Grant Flower but edged in into the hands of his elder brother.
Skipper Salim Malik excelled in bowling but failed in batting as he could contribute only nine runs. The fourth wicket fell at the total of 153 when Salim Malik was bowled by Grant Flower. Tariq Mahmood batted with flourish and Fareed Butt doggedly to save LCCA from further loss.
Grant Flower gave away 24 runs in 14 economical overs and claimed three wickets.
Day 3: Flower's all-round play puts Zimbabwe in driving seat
By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 6: Grant Flower put up a grand all-round performance by taking seven wickets for 31 and later hitting a brilliant century (118) to put Zimbabwe in the driving seat on third day of the four-day match against Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
In reply to Zimbabwe's impressive total of 394, skipper Salim Malik declared the first innings closed at 287 for nine at lunch to concede a lead of 107 runs. At stumps, Zimbabwe hit up 211 for five to frustrate hopes of a fight-back by the LCCA side. Zimbabwe extended its lead to 318, having five wickets still intact in the second knock.
On Sunday morning, Tariq Mahmood (56) and Fareed Butt (50 not out) hit fine half-centuries in contrasting styles to give some respectability to the LCCA first innings total.
Tariq Mahmood, elder brother of Test paceman Ata-ur-Rahman, lifted Mbangwa over long-off boundary to take his individual score to 43. He also hit 11 elegant boundaries during his stay of 97 minutes at the crease and he was the first man to be out on Sunday morning. Tariq went half-step forward on an inswinger from Matambanadzo, tried to play across the line and was clean bowled to give the paceman his only wicket. Fareed Butt, who resumed at his individual overnight score of 10, completed his half-century without losing his wicket. He hit eight boundaries and stayed at the crease for 181 minutes. He defied all the bowlers, including destroyer-in-chief Grant Flower. None of following batsmen could face him with confidence.
Grant Flower, with his guileful left-arm leg-spin bowling, claimed four more wickets on third morning to take his tally to seven. Grant Flower, younger of the two Flower-brothers, sent down ten overs, out of which six were maiden and he took four wickets for seven runs, a commendable achievement by any standard. He claimed the scalps of Humayun Farhat (0), Zaheer Ahmad Khan (5), Hasnain Kazim (1) and Amim Abbas (0). LCCA's other not out batsman Ahmad Khan hit one six and three fours in his breezy knock of 21. He plundered 18 runs in Campbell's only over.
Grant Flower, who is a right-hand stroke-player and bowls left-arm, combined well with the dogged right-hand fellow-opener Gavin Rennie to score 184 runs in 153 minutes to finish any hopes of a fight-back by LCCA.
Gavin Rennie batted in his usual, doggedly style whileGrant Flower exhibited his rich repertoire of strokes in his stay of 153 minutes at the crease. Grant Flower off-drove Hasnain for a four to complete his century and take Zimbabwe's total to 169. After completing his century, Grant Flower began trying reverse sweeps, succeeding occasionally. He lifted Babar Zaman Khan over long-off boundary for a big six but was out on the very next ball while trying a reverse sweep. Grant Flower mistimed the stroke and Amim Abbas held a catch at point.
Elder brother, Andy Flower (1) was Babar Zaman's second victim of the second innings. He tried to lift the off-spinner over extra-cover boundary but offered a catch to Shahid Anwar. On fifth ball of his same over, Babar Zaman claimed the wicket of Gavin Rennie. Trying to sweep Babar's off-break, Rennie was clean bowled. Babar Zaman claimed three quick wickets. Zimbabwe was three down for 189. In his 11 overs, Babar gave away 39 runs.
Paceman Hasnain Kazim, bowling in his rhythmic style, helped in destroying the middle-order batting by claiming two important wickets on two consecutive deliveries. Neil Johnson, the most successful Zimbabwean batsman during this tour, failed for the second time. On second delivery of Hasnain's 11th over, Neil Johnson missed the line of a low inswinger and umpire Iftikhar Malik raised his finger to declare him leg before wicket. Murray Goodwin, who scored a fine century in the first innings, fell first ball. He cut Hasnain's delivery uppishly and tariq Mahmood swooped a fine catch in gully. Zimbabwe was five down for 190 and Hasnain was on a hat-trick which was averted by Captain Alistair Campbell. Both the skipper (13) and Wishart (9) will resume the Zimbabwe second innings on Monday, the last day of the match. Before draw of stumps, Campbell lifted Babar Zaman over long-off for a huge six.
Day 4: LCCA inflict shock defeat on Zimbabwe
By Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Dec 7: Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) turned the tables on Zimbabwe by inflicting on it a one-wicket defeat on last afternoon of the four-day match near sunset at the Qaddafi Stadium on Monday.
Facing a target of 347 for a victory, Zaheer Ahmad Khan cut Neil Johnson for a four to take LCCA total to 350 for nine. As soon as ball crossed the boundary-line, a few dozen spectators present in the stadium, ran into the ground to congratulate the not out batsmen and there were impromptu celebrations. Zaheer remained not out at 24 (including two boundaries and a six) while lastman Ahmad Khan scored one.
After 20 minutes batting on last morning of the match, Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell declared the second innings at 239 for six, leaving LCCA to score 347 for a win. Only other batsman out was Wishart (10), who was caught by substitute fielder Imran Munawwar (replacing Ahmad Khan) inside the long-on boundary off Babar Zaman, when he went for a big hit. Babar Zaman claimed four wickets for 47.
LCCA skipper, Test discard Salim Malik, took the challenge courageously and himself opened the second innings along with Imran Farhat. The wristy stroke-player Salim Malik, looked in his elements as he hit a match-winning knock of 149 in 212 minutes, posting the ball 24 times to the ropes and also hitting a big six. He entertained the small crowd with his fluent strokes to all parts of the ground and saw to it that his side remained on course to victory.
Salim Malik and opener Imran Farhat (33 in 82 minutes) laid a foundation of the LCCA innings by putting on 92 runs for the first-wicket partnership in 82 minutes. Imran Farhat was caught by wicketkeeper Andy Flower taking one step as the batsman tried to sweep him and the ball flew, kissing his bat and pad.
Along with Babar Zaman (23 in 64 minutes with two fours), Salim Malik added 70 valuable runs for the second wicket partnership in 64 minutes. Babar Zaman was run out on his own call, stealing a cheeky single.
The most productive partnership of the day was witnessed between Salim Malik and Shahid Anwar. Both stroked the ball masterfully and added 95 runs in 62 minutes to take the LCCA total to 257. Salim Malik cover-drove Matambanadzo for a single to complete his century. While trying to cut Murray Goodwin, SalimMalik missed the line of the ball and was clean bowled.
Shahid Anwar hit a brilliant knock of 75 which took LCCA very near to the target. The Pakistan senior team had given lanky Shahid Anwar a chance against Leicestershire during the tour of England and he scored 89. Thereafter, he played a one-day international and scored 37 but was forgotten! In this match, Shahid Anwar exhibited his variety of strokes in his 150-minute batting. He opened his account with a big six off Huckle and also hit six boundaries. Shahid Anwar played the Zimbabwean pacemen and spinners with ease and grace. At the total of 325, Shahid Anwar was the seventh batsman out. He jumped out of his crease to hoist Andrew Whittal out of the ground, missed the line and was clean bowled. His knock took the pressure off from the following batsmen. Still, the match turned out to be very exciting till the very end.
It goes to the credit of the Zimbabwean bowlers that they battled really hard. The most outstanding out of them was Andrew Whittal, who claimed three wickets for 56 runs while Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson took two wickets, each, conceding 23 and 64 runs, respectively. Goodwin had Fareed Butt (0) leg before wicket, having earlier claimed Salim Malik. Johnson accounted for Tariq Mahmood (19 in 49 minutes) and Humayun Farhat, who bagged a pair.
Andrew Whittal struck blows at crucial stages to create a stir among the LCCA followers. After dismissing Shahid Anwar, the tall medium-pacer Andrew Whittal took wickets of Amim Abbas (12) and Hasnain Kazim (0).
Zaheer Khan hit a bold knock of 24 which made the win possible. During his 53-minute stay, Zaheer hit a huge six and two boundaries but saw to it that the team reaches the target. While wickets were falling on the other end, Zaheer kept his cool.
At conclusion of the match, the elated LCCA manager Nawab Mansoor Hayat Sherwani said that the strategy to induct experienced players along with youngsters had worked well. He said that the boys put up a resolute fight which paid rich dividends.