Taibu, Blignaut keep Zimbabwe in match

Fighting half centuries by Tatenda Taibu and Andy Blignaut kept Zimbabwe alive on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan on Sunday.

Pakistan were 14 for one, a lead of 74 runs, in their second innings when bad light ended play 17.4 overs early after Zimbabwe had been dismissed for 225, 60 runs behind Pakistan's first innings score of 285.

Taufeeq Umar was 14 not out with Younis Khan on nought after Salim Elahi was caught by Alistair Campbell for nought off Henry Olonga.

Taibu scored an unbeaten 51, his maiden Test half century, in almost three hours at the wicket in which he faced 118 balls and hit two fours.

By contrast, Blignaut hammered his 50 off 38 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes.

Fast bowler Muhammad Sami took four for 53 for Pakistan.

Earlier, Dion Ebrahim and Hamilton Masakadza made a solid start to the home side's reply with a sensible opening partnership of 36 that took the sting out of aggressive bowling by Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.

It took almost an hour for Pakistan to separate the openers.

but they made up for the lull by taking three wickets in the space of 11 balls.

Masakadza gloved a legside delivery from Sami to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to be caught behind for nine.

Six balls later Campbell was yorked for two by an express delivery from Shoaib Akhtar, bowling around the wicket to the left hander.

Ebrahim, on 31, edged an outswinger from Sami to Izamam-ul-Haq at first slip as Zimbabwe slumped to 43 for three in the 13th over.

Grant and Andy Flower made a diligent attempt to rebuild the innings in their fourth-wicket stand of 33.

But four overs before lunch Andy Flower was adjudged caught behind by umpire Srini Venkataraghavan to a ball from Sami that seemed to clip the thigh pad rather than the bat. Andy Flower's 29 featured five fours.

Zimbabwe slipped to 93 for five just five balls after lunch, when Guy Whittall played down the wrong line to a straight delivery from Shoaib Akhtar and was bowled for seven.

Shoaib Akhtar would have reduced the home side to 103 for six but a dozing Inzamam-ul-Haq at first slip failed to hold a simple catch offered by Taibu, on four.

Grant Flower and Taibu shared 43 runs for the sixth wicket that was ended 40 minutes before tea when Flower was trapped in front for 31 by Waqar Younis with a delivery that seamed towards the right hander.

Day 1 report: Pakistan crash to 285 all out

Mail Cricket Editor