Cricket: Houghton rides to the rescue for Zimbabwe

David Houghton and Alistair Campbell, past and present captains respectively, led a Zimbabwe fightback with a century stand in the second and final Test against Pakistan in Faisalabad yesterday.

Zimbabwe, 134 behind on first innings, were 23 for 3 in their second innings when Houghton and Campbell joined forces. By the close of the second day, Houghton had reached 74 not out and Campbell was unbeaten on 51, their unbroken third-wicket partnership of 113 having lifted Zimbabwe to 136 for 3.

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis rocked the start of the touring side's second innings, each taking a wicket in their first over. Wasim had Flower lbw and Waqar had Mark Dekker leg before, both failing to score.

Zimbabwe plunged into further trouble when Waqar had Craig Wishart (7) caught by Salim Malik in the slips with the total on 23. The innings was given impetus by 39-year-old Houghton, the oldest player among the two sides. He has so far struck nine fours and a six from 110 balls in his second successive half-century of the series, while Campbell has six fours in his 83-ball knock for his eighth fifty in his 20th Test.

Pakistan, starting the day at 114 for 3 in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of 133, were all out 40 minutes before tea for 267. Saeed Anwar, 69 overnight, slammed three blistering fours, before chasing a wide delivery from Everton Matambanadzo to Andy Flower behind the stumps. His 81 included 16 fours and he faced 97 balls in 138 minutes.

Hassan Raza, the youngest Test player in the game's history at 14 years and 227 days, went next at 141, falling to the left-arm seamer, Bryan Strang, after adding seven to his overnight 20. Wasim and Moin Khan put on 53 for the sixth wicket before the Pakistan captain was bowled by Mpumillo Mbangwa for a fluent 35 off 47 balls. The first test was drawn.

South Africa won their fourth consecutive match in the Titan Cup triangular limited-overs tournament when they beat Australia by two wickets in Faridabad, India yesterday. South Africa, chasing Australia's 215 all out from 47.3 of their 50 overs, reached 218 for 8 with 16 balls left. Stuart Law top- scored for Australia with 52, while for South Africa Allan Donald took 4 for 31 and Daryll Cullinan made 71 not out. South Africa head the standings, followed by India with one victory from three matches. Australia have not won a game.

SECOND TEST (Faisalabad, Pak): Second day; Zimbabwe won toss

ZIMBABWE - First Innings 133 (A Flower 61; Wasim Akram 6-48).

PAKISTAN - First Innings

(Overnight: 114 for 3)

Saeed Anwar c A Flower b Matambanabzo 81

Hasan Raza c Houghton b B Strang 27

*Wasim Akram b Mbangwa 35

Moin Khan c A Flower b B Strang 58

Mohammed Hussain run out 0

Saqlain Mushtaq not out 15

Waqar Younis b G Flower 23

Shahid Nazeer lbw b P Strang 1

Extras (lb4 nb1) 5

Total (79.1 overs) 267

Fall (cont): 4-127, 5-141, 6-194, 7-200, 8-235, 9-264, 10-267.

Bowling: Matambanadzo 11-0-62-2; Mbangwa 17-1-67-2; B Strang 18-5-53- 3 (1nb); Whittal 7-4-11-0; P Strang 24.1-8-66-1; G Flower 2-0-4-1.

ZIMBABWE - Second Innings

G W Flower lbw b Wasim Akram 0

M H Dekker lbw b Waqar Younis 0

C B Wishart c Salim Malik b Waqar Younis 7

D L Houghton not out 74

*A D R Campbell not out 51

Extras (lb3 nb1) 4

Total (for 3, 36 overs) 136

Fall: 1-0, 2-0, 3-23.

Did not bat: A Flower, G J Whittal, P A Strang, B C Strang, M Mbangwa, E Matambanadzo.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 10-2-30-1 (1nb); Waqar Younis 9-2-34-2; Saqlain Mushtaq 5-1-26-0; Shahid Nazir 6-1-21-0; Mohammed Hussain 4-1-14-0; Salim Malik 2-0-8-0.

Umpires: Mehboob Shah (Pak), D Cowie (NZ).

TITAN CUP (Faridabad, Ind): Australia 215 (47.3 overs; S G Law 52; A A Donald 4-31); South Africa 218 for 8 (47.2 overs; D J Cullinan 71no). South Africa won by two wickets.