Zimbabwe vs Pakistan: 1st Test, Day 1 - Zimbabwe restrict Pakistan to 249/9

Saeed Ajmal picked up valuable runs for Pakistan towards the end of the day one

Pakistan, put into bat by Zimbabwe, on what appears to be a difficult road ahead for the batsmen from either sides with the pitch playing all sorts of tricks, crawled their way past to 249. They were helped by half centuries from Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq, and lost 9 wickets at the end of the day one of the first Test at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean fast bowlers, spot on with their line and length and with the help of some appreciable assistance from the pitch, left the visitors reeling at 27/3 early in the day, with Mohammad Hafeez, Khurram Manzoor and Younis Khan back in the hut. With his team in tatters, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was forced to take a rearguard action in combination with Azhar Ali to restore some sanity.

Both the batsmen ensured that their team went into the lunch break without the fall of further wickets at 74/3. Resuming on the same note, they put together a partnership of 93 runs, before Misbah fell for 53 off 94, trying an uncharacteristic slog of Prosper Utseya to get caught at short midwicket.

Utseya doubled his wicket tally soon, as Asad Shafiq gifted his wicket attempting a rash shot. Meanwhile, Ali had reached his half century. Pakistan managed to score 151 runs for the loss of five wickets by the time of Tea break.

In the last session, Zimbabwe chipped away with wickets at regular intervals. Ali was dismissed for a hard fought 78 off 185 balls, caught at the second slip playing a loose shot to a wide delivery from Masakadza.

Just when Pakistan were looking in danger of getting all out under 200, in Saeed Ajmal they found an unexpected rescue act. He seemed to get away with everything he attempted, slogging his way out to score an unbeaten 49 off 64 balls as the day came to an end with Pakistan at 249 for the loss of nine wickets.

The Zimbabwean fast bowlers had a fruitful day with Tinashe Panyangara leading the way with three wickets to his name while Tendai Chatara and Shinji Masakadza picked up two wickets each.