Brain remains

Pakistan 231

Zimbabwe 243

Pakistan's players produced a workmanlike performance on the second day of the third Test against Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday.

But a ninth-wicket partnership of 40 in nine overs between Paul Strang (32) and David Brain (22 not out) helped the home side to 243, giving them a first-innings lead of 12.

(Second day; Pakistan won toss)

PAKISTAN - First Innings 231 (Inzamam-ul-Haq 101; H H Streak 4-53)

ZIMBABWE - First Innings

(Overnight: 4-0)

G W Flower b Amir Nazir 6

S V Carlisle c Salim Malik b Aqib Javed 31

A D R Campbell c Manzoor Elahi b Amir 14

D L Houghton c Rashid Latif b Wasim 19

*A Flower c Aamir Sohail b Manzoor 37

G J Whittall b Aqib Javed 34

I P Butchart c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Wasim 15

P A Strang c Aamir Sohail b Amir Nazir 28

H H Streak lbw b Aqib Javed 0

D H Brain not out 22

B Strang b Aqib Javed 6

Extras (lb4 w1 nb26) 31

Total (78 overs) 243

Fall: 1-20 2-51 3-79 4-95 5-145 6-175 7-193 8-193 9-233.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 28-2-90-2 (12nb); Aqib Javed 25-5-64-4 (6nb 1w); Amir Nazir 13-3-50-3 (6nb); Manzoor Elahi 10-3-28-1 (1nb); Aamir Sohail 2-0-7-0 (1nb).

n Australia's role in the bribery allegations against Pakistan cricket will not threaten this year's Test series between the two countries, Australian Cricket Board chief executive, Graham Halbish, said yesterday.