Zimbabwe fought back to 165-3 at tea on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan, adding 100 runs for the loss of just Hamilton Masakadza in the second session yesterday.
Masakadza departed after being caught at slip off spinner Saeed Ajmal for 75, but captain Brendan Taylor was well set on 48 not out and Malcolm Waller was 18 not out at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe faced a tough opening spell, losing Tino Mawoyo off the second ball of the match and fellow opener Vusi Sibanda for 14 to be 31-2 before Masakadza and Taylor combined for a 110-run stand for the third wicket.
Zimbabwe’s most experienced batsmen dragged the hosts out of early trouble, giving them a chance of making a solid first-innings score and avoiding a fifth series defeat in seven since returning to Test cricket in 2011.
Left-arm pace bowlers Rahat Ali and Junaid Khan and off-spinner Ajmal had one wicket each for Pakistan, who won the first Test by 221 runs and were immediately on top at the start of the second, although Mawoyo’s early dismissal appeared to be a mistake with TV replays showing the ball flicked his thigh and not his bat before carrying through to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal.
He was still given out caught behind off Khan, and Sibanda chopped a short ball from Ali onto his stumps in the 17th over in a labored start for the home team, who did not score a run until the fifth over.
Masakadza counterattacked with nine fours and a six, and Taylor had hit six boundaries on his return to action after missing the first Test because of the birth of his first child.
Masakadza fell seven overs before the tea interval when he edged to Mohammad Hafeez at slip after being deceived by Ajmal’s doosra.
However, Waller settled in alongside Taylor, striking 16 of his 18 runs in fours.
Taylor opted to bat first on a Harare pitch which had just two days to recover after the first Test and amid concerns that the surface would deteriorate quickly later in the game because of its overuse.
Taylor’s return to the side meant Sikandar Raza stepped down and in a second change to the side that controlled the first Test for three days before losing by 221 runs, Brian Vitori replaced fellow pace bowler Shingi Masakadza.
Pakistan kept faith in the first Test line-up as they sought a tour ‘hat-trick’ after winning both Twenty20 games and two of three one-day internationals.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care