Tireless Saqlain anchors Pakistan win

Off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq led Pakistan to a 119-run victory in the first Test against Zimbabwe with a day to spare on Tuesday.

Saqlain bowled a marathon spell of 31 overs on the fourth day as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 310 in their second innings -- chasing a victory target of 430.

The tireless Saqlain applied relentless pressure on a pitch which did not offer him significant assistance, finishing with figures of three for 98.

Zimbabwe began the day on 19 for one having dismissed Pakistan for 369 in their second innings.

They lost their second wicket in the ninth over of the morning when Alistair Campbell failed to get in line with a delivery from fast bowler Muhammad Sami and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for 30.

Grant Flower joined opener Dion Ebrahim at the crease for a stabilising partnership of 111 for the third wicket in which Ebrahim played the anchor role and Flower unfurled several dazzling cover drives.

Pakistan wasted a chance to dismiss Ebrahim for 24 when, with the total 60 for two, Taufeeq Umar spilled a chance at third slip off the bowling of Sami.

Four overs before lunch, Saqlain was convinced he had Ebrahim caught behind down the leg side for 60, only for the delivery to be ruled a no ball.

Zimbabwe went to lunch on 154 for two, but Pakistan broke through four overs later when Ebrahim left a delivery from Shoaib Akhtar that reverse swung and uprooted middle stump. Ebrahim scored his 69 off 116 balls and hit nine fours.

Grant Flower then went fishing down the leg side to a delivery from Saqlain and was caught behind for 69 having faced 113 balls.

Saqlain struck again in the next over when Guy Whittall edged a high bouncing delivery to Younis Khan at slip to be dismissed for two.

Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu bolstered Zimbabwe with a brisk sixth-wicket stand of 53 before Taibu was trapped lbw by fast bowler Waqar Younis for 28 three overs after tea.

Umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan's decision seemed harsh as the ball appeared to be missing leg stump.

That proved Zimbabwe's last meaningful stand, and the match was all over bar the shouting when Flower skied a short ball from Shoaib, with the bowler taking the catch.

Shoaib took his fourth wicket of the innings when he clean bowled Henry Olonga to end the match.

Match report: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Mail Cricket Editor