Resuming the day on 52/4, the Zimbabwe middle and lower order didn’t last long as they crumbled to 132 allout in the first innings. Hasan Ali picked up another five-wicket haul. In the second essay, the story was more or less the same as Nauman Ali, and Shaheen Afridi combined to pick nine wickets to leave Zimbabwe at 220/9.
Pakistan continued to dominate proceedings in this Test match and this Test series and are on the cusp of a 2-0 series white-wash. Zimbabwe still trail by 158 runs and only have one wicket in hand. This will be Pakistan’s second successive innings victory of the series.
Barring Regis Chakabva, there has hardly been any batter who has stood up and fought. Not only in this Test match but throughout the Test series. Most Zimbabwe batsmen just chipped in with small contributions, and none could make it big.
On day three, Zimbabwe resumed their first innings on 52/4. Regis Chakabva and nightwatchman Tendai Chisoro were at the crease, but it didn’t take long for Hasan Ali to strike. He removed Chisoro in the very first over of the day as he had the night watchman caught in the slips. A few overs later, Ali then got wickets in successive overs as he dismissed Chakabva and Luke Jongwe, who was looking good to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 77/7.
Donald Tiripano swung his bat and stuck around for 56 balls, scoring 23, which helped Zimbabwe get over the 100-run mark. However, the fun didn’t last long as the hosts were bowled out for 132. Hasan Ali completed his second fifer of the series and third in as many Test matches.
With a massive 378-run lead, Pakistan decided to enforce the follow-on. There was a little more resistance and fight from the Zimbabwe batters in the second essay. They lost Tarisai Musakanda early as Shaheen Afridi had an early scalp.
However, Kevin Kasuza and first innings top-scorer Chakabva battled hard and weathered the storm early. The duo saw off the new ball and scored just 33 runs in the first 17 overs. However, as soon as the spinners were introduced, Chakabva went out on the attack. He smashed Sajid Khan for a four and a couple of sixes in an over. Kasuza also hit one six off Nauman Ali. But the left-arm spinner knocked over the Zimbabwe opener a couple of balls later as Kasuza missed a wild slog.
The arrival of skipper Brendan Taylor helped Zimbabwe up the ante, and they continued to attack. Taylor raced away to 24 off 15 balls while Chakabva was batting on 43 off 61 as Tea was taken. After the break, the Chakabva-Taylor duo continued in the same vein.
While Chakabva may have been a little more subdued, Taylor blazed his way to a 31-ball 49 before Shaheen Afridi had the Zimbabwe skipper strangled down leg-side. The threatening 79-run stand was broken, and that gave Pakistan an opening that they made full use of. Nauman and Afridi ran through the Zimbabwe middle and lower order.
Milton Shumba got a decent start but couldn’t really convert it. Zimbabwe slipped from 170/3 to 205/9 and are on the verge of a series white-wash. It could’ve been all over on day three itself, but debutant Luke Jongwe hung around and is still unbeaten on 31. He has Blessing Muzarabani for a company, who has faced 12 balls and is yet to get off the mark.
The duo saw off six overs before bad light forced the umpires to call stumps. Nauman finished the day with five wickets in the second innings, while Afridi took four.
Brief Scores
Zimbabwe 132 (Chakabva 33, Tiripano 23, Hasan Ali 5/27, Sajid 2/39) and 220/9 (Chakabva 80, Taylor 49, Nauman 5/86, Shaheen 4/45) trail Pakistan 510/8 dec (Abid Ali 215, Azhar Ali 126, Muzarabani 3/82, Chisoro 2/131) by 158 runs
