BBC SPORT | Cricket | Blignaut cuts through Pakistan

First Test, Harare, day one (stumps): Pakistan 285 all out v Zimbabwe

Andy Blignaut led the attack as Zimbabwe dismissed Pakistan for 285 on day one of the first Test in Harare.

The pace bowler, in his seventh Test, took five wickets for 79 as the tourists subsided from 217 for three.

Blignaut accounted for opener Saleem Elahi in the fifth over of the day, captain Alistair Campbell at slip reaping the rewards for deciding to bowl first.

It was not until after lunch that he enjoyed further success, but his two wickets in three balls accounted for both members of a 115-run second wicket partnership.

Younis Khan edged a cut to gully for 40 and Taufeeq Umar was taken by Andy Flower at slip after an impressive 75 from 120 deliveries, with eight fours and a six.

Pakistan vice-captain Inzamam-ul Haq, on 39, saw a top-edge off Henry Olonga caught at mid-on on the stroke of tea, and that proved the turning point.

The wicket brought an end to a 92-run partnership between Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana, both back in the side after missing the series against Australia through injury.

Andy Blignaut
Blignaut took two wickets in a single over
Youhana added 29 for the fifth wicket with Hasan Raza before he was lbw for 63, trying to sweep left-armer Raymond Price.

And Raza managed a cautious 46, taking 138 minutes before he was last man out.

The television umpire ruled a catch for Campbell at third man, handing a first wicket to 20-year-old Test debutant Blessing Mahwire.

Blignaut used the second new ball to complete his haul with the wickets of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.

Pakistan were forced to hand a debut to 20-year-old wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal after Rashid Latif was ruled out with an injured neck vertebrae.

But the youngster was bowled by Price for a duck after facing 10 balls.

And Guy Whittall gained a reward for 22 overs in which just 44 runs were conceded, having Saqlain Mushtaq caught at slip.

Pakistan manager Brigadier KM Nasir said a decision would be made "in the next day or two" on whether Latif would remain with the squad or return home.

Zimbabwe:A D R Campbell (Capt), A Flower (Wkt), D D Ebrahim, H Masakadza, G W Flower, G J Whittall, T Taibu, A M Blignaut, N B Mahwire, R W Price, H K Olonga.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (Capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Taufeeq Umar, Saleem Elahi, Yousuf Youhana, Hasan Raza, Younis Khan Kamran Akmal (Wkt), Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Saqlain Mushtaq.


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