Pakistan Shaheens dominate Zimbabwe A on opening day

Pakistan Shaheens – 352-2 in 73 overs (Muhammad Hurraira 178, Omair Yousuf 161*, Kamran Ghulam 5*; Faraz Akram 1/47, Victor Nyauchi 1/48)

Zimbabwe A –

Day 1 – Stumps

It was a tough day for the Zimbabwe A team at Kwekwe Sports Club on Wednesday, as they had to field out two superb centuries scored by two outstanding young Pakistani batters.

Muhammad Hurraira, who already has a first-class triple-century to his account, and Omair Yusuf shared a second-wicket partnership of 339 runs in almost five hours to take the Pakistan Shaheens to a score of 352 for two wickets by the close of play on the first day of the first four-day match.

The match did not start until after lunch due to morning dew.

Roy Kaia, winning the toss for Zimbabwe A on a fine batting pitch, must have regretted his decision to put their opponents in to bat.

The home side did enjoy an early wicket, though, as in only the second over the visiting captain, Imran Butt, was caught off the bowling of Faraz Akram for three.

After that it was one-way traffic, as Yusuf joined Hurraira at the wicket and between them they put the Zimbabwean bowling to the sword.

In less than 10 overs, they had 50 runs on the board.

They never really slackened off, as for most of their partnership they scored at a rate of almost a run a ball.

At tea they had reached 152 for one wicket, with Hurraira on 78 and Yusuf 67.

Yusuf tended to take more of the bowling, but Hurraira scored the faster of the two, reaching his century off 113 balls, while Yusuf took 144 balls for his.

Not content with this, they continued to plunder the bowling, both of them passing the 150 mark.

Victor Nyauchi managed to keep them under reasonable control, bowling 14 overs in the day for 48 runs, but the other pace bowlers suffered quite severe punishment.

The off-spinners Wessly Madhevere and Kaia also were fairly economical, but failed to take a wicket.

Their partnership was worth 339 when, just before the close, Hurraira miscued a drive off Nyauchi and Madhevere took a well-judged running catch in the deep.

Hurraira had scored 178 off 188 balls, and hit six sixes and 14 fours in a very fine innings.

The score was now 342 for two wickets after 66 overs had been bowled.

Kamran Ghulam came in next and stayed until the close, not always comfortably, for five not out.

Yusuf finished the day with 161 not out.