Saeed Ajmal, Younis Khan sink Zimbabwe in first Test

Man-of-the-match Younis Khan scored an unbeaten 200 to set-up a 221 run win for Pakistan

Zimbabwe resumed day 5 of the first Test match at Harare on overnight score of 13/1 needing another 329 to win. A win, though, was never on their minds as they set out to grind out the stipulated 90 overs to salvage a draw.

But all their hopes crumbled in the very first over of the day as Pakistan, inspired by Juanid Khan, Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal broke Zimbabwe’s spine and any hopes of resistance.

Zimbabwe, undid all their good work of previous four days as they crumbled inside 40 overs. Junaid Khan started the demolition with two wickets inside his first two overs of the day. The middle order tried to fight back which lasted briefly as they were unable to cope against the quality spin duo of Rehman and Ajmal.

Saeed Ajmal, who was unlucky to miss out on the man of the match award, picked up four wickets in the second innings, following up on the seven-wicket haul he had in the first innings. Abdur Rehman, who went wicket-less in the first innings, also chipped in with four in the second.

Earlier in the match, Pakistan riding on a man of the match Younis Khan’s marathon innings of 200 run set a stiff target of 342 runs. This is Pakistan’s first Test win under Dav Whatmore after his appointment in March 2012.