Pakistan seek quick runs to build lead

BULAWAYO: Pakistani batsmen threw caution to the wind here on the fourth day of the one-off test with Zimbabwe as they upped the scoring rate to go into lunch on 460-8 in their first innings, a lead of 48.

Beginning the session on 357-5 and looking for a big lead to put Zimbabwe under pressure, Pakistan lost three wickets, including the pivotal wicket of Younis Khan, who only added 27 to his overnight score of 61.

He was caught somewhat fortuitously at first slip by captain Brendan Taylor off veteran spinner Raymond Price, the ball first bouncing off wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu's pad.

Umar Akmal survived a TV review of a run-out appeal but he failed to capitalise on that reprieve as he was caught soon afterwards by Taylor off Gregory Lamb for 15.

Sohail Khan was then caught by Lamb on the mid-wicket boundary off Christopher Mpofu for 11.

Khan had been dropped at gulley by Hamilton Masakadza just beforehand - the sixth spilling of the innings - and he punished Masakadza by hitting the next ball for a six.

Saeed Ajmal spent the last three overs of the morning seeking quick runs and he is on 24 at the break.

Zimbabwe's fielding in general cost them dear throughout the innings and it showed no change on Sunday as several elementary errors in the field cost them more runs.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011