Cricket: Fog thwarts Pakistan

Pakistan 325-9 dec Zimbabwe 183 & 48

A MAGNIFICENT maiden century by Yousaf Yohanna helped Pakistan gain a 142-run lead in the second Test against Zimbabwe in Lahore yesterday, but bad weather foiled the hosts' bid for victory. Instead, Zimbabwe made 48 without loss in their second innings to raise their hopes of a draw.

Heavy fog and overcast conditions marred the Test, with only 45 overs bowled on the fourth day.

Zimbabwe, leading the series 1-0 following their seven-wicket win in the first Test at Peshawar, will be content if the weather remains the same with only one Test remaining, in Faisalabad on 17 December.

Gavin Rennie and Grant Flower survived hostile but erratic bowling from Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, with Waqar Younis not bowling in the second innings because of illness.

Pakistan, resuming at 211 for 5, declared their first innings closed at 325 for 9, with Yousaf hitting an unbeaten 120. He put on 60 invaluable runs for the ninth wicket with Shoaib and 50 in 48 minutes for the 10th wicket with Waqar, who made 24.

"I was told to stay at the wicket and that I did," Yousaf said. "After Salim Malik's run-out on my call the onus was on me."

(Fourth day of five; Pakistan won toss)

Zimbabwe - First Innings 183 (A Flower 60no; Saqlain Mushtaq 5-32, Waqar Younis 4-54)

Pakistan - First Innings (Overnight: 211 for 5)

Saeed Anwar c A Flower b Johnson 75

Naveed Ashraf b Streak 32

Ijaz Ahmad c Huckle b Johnson 16

Salim Malik run out 2

Yousaf Yohanna not out 120

Hassan Raza c Rennie b Huckle 3

*Moin Khan lbw b Olanga 25

Wasim Akram c Johnson b Olanga 2

Saqlain Mushtaq b Olanga 0

Shoaib Akhtar b Huckle 11

Waqar Younis not out 24

Extras (lb10 nb5) 15

Total (for 9 dec) 325

Fall: 1-69, 2-121, 3-129, 4-132, 5-147, 6-213, 7-215, 8-215, 9-275.

Bowling: Streak 33-8-75-1; Olanga 25-9-63-3 (nb1); Mbangwa 24-4-66-0; Johnson 24-2-71-2 (4nb); Huckle 7-0-40-2.

Zimbabwe - Second Innings

G J Rennie not out 16

G W Flower not out 17

Extras (lb-5 nb-10) 15

Total (for no wicket) 48

Bowling: Wasim Akram 6-0-23-0 (7nb); Shoaib Akhtar 5-1-15-0 (3nb); Saqlain Mushtaq 1-0-5-0.