Brian Vitori’s performance was one of the positives for Zimbabwe A © AFP
Shadab Khan followed up his maiden first-class century with a five-wicket haul as Pakistan A knocked off a 37-run target with eight wickets to spare in Bulawayo on Wednesday, thereby taking the series 1-0.
Shadab, batting at No. 10, made 132 in Pakistan A’s 512 after Zimbabwe, driven by centuries from Brian Chari and Sean Williams, posted 346. Their 199-run third-wicket stand helped the hosts recover from Ghulam Mudassar’s twin strikes. Zimbabwe A lost their last five wickets for 46, with Shadab taking 4 for 84 in 24 overs.
Pakistan A’s first-innings total was set up by Zain Abbas (78), but a mini-collapse resulted in them slipping to 289 for 6. That they managed a 167-run lead was largely due to the seventh-wicket stand of 130 between Saad Ali (97) and Shadab. The hosts let it slip away further by allowing the last three wickets to add 93 runs.
Zimbabwe’s hopes of emulating their first innings batting performance received a fillip courtesy Tarisai Musakanda (87) and Williams’ (42). But left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar’s strike to dismiss Williams triggered a collapse, with Zimbabwe A folding from 113 for 2 to 202 all out. Shadab’s maiden five-for meant he finished with a match haul of 9 for 166.
Pakistan A’s openers took the side to within three runs of a modest target before losing Abbas and Umar Amin to Brian Vitori. Ali knocked off the winning runs off the first ball he faced, with Pakistan A completing the formalities in seven overs.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo