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Abid registers 2nd best score outside Asia, Azhar’s most tons at #3 and Babar’s winning streak

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Last updated on 10 May 2021 | 02:25 PM
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Abid registers 2nd best score outside Asia, Azhar’s most tons at #3 and Babar’s winning streak

Here are a few noteworthy stats from the second Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club.

After Pakistan decimated Zimbabwe in the first Test with an innings and 116 runs, an injury struck Zimbabwean side were in search of redemption. However, it was an uphill task against a frolicking Pakistan side. Skipper Babar Azam, won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. A mammoth partnership of 236 for the second wicket (Abid and Azhar Ali) and a breezy 169-run stand for the eighth wicket (Abid and Nauman Ali) helped Pakistan in posting 510. In reply, Zimbabwe were forced to follow-on after Hasan Ali continued to dominate. During the follow-on, Zimbabwe crumbled once again. Eventually, they were an innings and 147 runs short, hence, handing a white wash.

Late comers


In recent times for Pakistan, there were few player who made their Test debut pretty late. In their second Test against Zimbabwe, Tabish Khan was also one of them. At the age of 36 years and 146 days, Tabish Khan became the third oldest Pakistan player to debut for them in Tests. He had featured in 137 first-class matches and had 598 wickets in those.

Most successful number three batsman


Azhar Ali has been one of the hallmark players of Pakistan in modern times. Him being the fifth highest run scorer for Pakistan in Tests is itself a proof of it. He has batted in different positions, but number three has been the spot that he has owned. In the second Test against Zimbabwe, Azhar reached his 14th Test ton batting at number three, which is the most for a Pakistan batsman. He surpassed Younis Khan’s tally of 13.

Abid Ali’s marathon innings


Missed out on an opportunity in the first Test, Abid Ali came back strong in the second. Abid had a great start to his Test career by scoring two centuries in consecutive matches, the first Pakistani batsmen. Post that, Abid didn’t have a single one for 15 innings. In the second Test, he made sure he would back all of those in one innings and did so by registering his first double century in Tests. His unbeaten 215 is the second highest score for a Pakistani opener outside Asia. Hanif Mohammad in 1958 had scored 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown.

Late flourish


On back of a mammoth partnership of 236 between Abid and Azhar for the second wicket, Pakistan middle order stumbled. However, a late flourish between Abid and Nauman Ali for the eighth wicket helped them propel to a total of 510. The 169-run stand off just 199 balls was the second highest partnership for the eighth wicket for Pakistan in Tests. Against the same opponents in 1996, Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq had posted 313 in Sheikhupura.

A lower order cameo


At 341/7 and Abid in 146, Pakistan never looked like they would post a 500+ total. However, Nauman who is a capable lower-order batsman, was in support of Abid. In fact, he was the aggressor, especially against spinners. He fell three runs short of a magnificent century and would have been only the second number nine batsman to register a century for Pakistan. Nevertheless, his score of 97 is the second highest score in Test for a Pakistani number nine.

Left armer’s treat


Hasan Ali ripped through the Zimbabwean batting line up in the first innings. In the second it was the two left arm bowlers who benefited. Shaheen Afridi and Nauman Ali, both picked up a five wicket haul. In an innings this was only the second instance of two left arm bowlers picking up a five-wicket haul. The only other instance took place 112 years before, when George Hirst and Colin Blythe of England in 1909 achieved this feat against Australia.

The first Pakistan captain to start with four wins


It is a well known fact that Babar Azam is one amongst the modern great batsmen. Even to his captaincy, Babar has made a fantabulous start. In his first series as skipper against South Africa, Babar started off with a white-wash (2-0). Yet again, in this series, with another white-wash (2-0), he became the first Pakistan captain to win his first four matches. He was also the first ever captain in Test history to complete a white-wash in his first two series.

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