Abid hits double century as Pakistan leave struggling Zimbabwe on ropes
Issued on: Unbeaten double century for Pakistan s Abid Ali Aamir QURESHI AFP/File 3 min
Harare (AFP)
Pakistan took total control on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, outclassing the home side with both bat and ball to take a big step towards sealing a 2-0 series victory.
Zimbabwe were 52 for four at the close in reply to Pakistan s 510 for eight declared, 458 runs behind.
Opening batsman Abid Ali made 215 not out and Nauman Ali slammed 97 before being stumped off a wide.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) Abid Ali's maiden test double century and Nauman Ali's 97 carried Pakistan to 510-8 declared against an overwhelmed Zimbabwe host on day two of the second test on Saturday. Zimbabwe, already in deep trouble after nearly two days in the field, was 52-4 in reply by stumps, trailing by 458 runs, and at risk of losing the test inside three days by an innings, as it did in the first test last week.
Daily Times
May 8, 2021
Centuries by Abid Ali and Azhar Ali put Pakistan in a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Abid (118 not out) and Azhar (126) put on 236 for the second wicket before tall fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani brought Zimbabwe back into the match by taking three wickets with the second new ball.
Pakistan had reached 268 for four at the close.
Abid and Azhar came together with the total on 12 in the eighth over and ground down the Zimbabwe bowlers before Azhar edged Muzarabani to gully in the last half hour of the day.
Azhar, Abid keep Pakistan steady after losing Butt early
ESPN
Lunch Pakistan 72 for 1 vs Zimbabwe
Pakistan overcame the early loss of Imran Butt to finish off the first session having established a modicum of control over proceedings, with Azhar Ali and Abid Ali ensuring they went to lunch suffering no further losses. The conservative nature of the visitors approach meant it was at times a tedious watch as they accumulated 72 runs in 29 overs, though the slowish pitch Harare offered was perhaps a mitigating factor.
Pakistan opted to bat, with the most striking bit of news the decision to hand a debut to 36-year old Tabish Khan. The reasons for excluding Faheem Ashraf, entering perhaps the most promising phase of a young Test career, weren t quite satisfactorily explained, and the omission meant Pakistan s tail was somewhat enlarged. Pakistan will have hoped they didn t require bonus runs from the lower order, but they didn t quite go about ensuring it in the most convincing way.
Pak vs Zim: Abid Ali, Azhar Ali centuries put Pakistan in strong position against Zimbabwe in 2nd Test
By Twitter/PCB
Centuries by Abid Ali and Azhar Ali put Pakistan in a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Abid (118 not out) and Azhar (126) put on 236 for the second wicket before tall fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani brought Zimbabwe back into the match by taking three wickets with the second new ball.
Pakistan had reached 268 for four at the close.
Abid and Azhar came together with the total on 12 in the eighth over and ground down the Zimbabwe bowlers before Azhar edged Muzarabani to gully in the last half hour of the day.