Campbell takes the blame as Zimbabwe struggle

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell shouldered his share of the blame for Zimbabwe's precarious position after the third day of the second Test against Pakistan in Bulawayo on Monday.

Zimbabwe were 171 for five in their second innings at stumps - still 54 runs short of making Pakistan bat again.

Andy Flower was not out on 13 after Hamilton Masakadza prodded the last ball of the day, bowled by offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq, to Yousuf Youhana at silly point to be dismissed for 16.

Campbell and Grant Flower shared 88 runs in a stabilising partnership for the third wicket. It was ended 15 overs before the close when Shoaib Akhtar bowled Grant Flower off his pads and from around the wicket for 43.

Campbell went eight overs later, bowled off the inside edge of his diagonal bat by pace bowler Muhammad Sami for 62.

"Grant and I did all the hard work, but then Shoaib came on and bowled a really quick spell," Campbell told Reuters. "It was reverse swinging and it was really difficult.

"Then Andy and I looked like getting it together, and I played a crap shot, basically."

Campbell said Zimbabwe's problems could be traced back to their first innings of 178, to which Pakistan replied with 403.

"There's been a lot more fight shown in the second innings, but unfortunately first innings runs count," Campbell said.

"We've been a team who've tried to scramble things in the second innings, but we've got to get away from that. Hopefully this will give the guys a wake up call about the importance of first innings runs."

Campbell said it was up to his team to play a good game as well as talk one.

"Our mental state has always been positive," Campbell said. "We've got our game plans up on the wall - how to bat, how to bowl, team ethics, that sort of thing.

"It's all there, but it's one thing talking about it and another executing it."

Match report: Day 1 | Day 2

Mail Cricket Editor