Sami finished with four wickets

Pakistan express bowlers Mohammad Sami and Shoaib Akhtar shared seven wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 225 on day two of the first Test.

But contrasting half-centuries from tailenders Tatenda Taibu and Andy Blignaut kept the home side within reach of Pakistan's first innings 285.

And Zimbabwe opening bowler Henry Olonga struck back with a wicket in the second over to reduce the tourists to 14 for one before bad light stopped play.

Bowling first change, Sami took three wickets for 33 in his first eight overs as Zimbabwe stumbled to 91 for four at lunch.

The key scalp was that of leading batsman Andy Flower, caught behind off a leg-side nick after an aggressive start that brought 29 off 24 balls.

The former captain appeared disappointed by the decision, apparently feeling that the ball had come off his thigh pad.

That wicket followed the dismissals of openers Hamilton Masakadza, caught by debutant wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal in the 11th over, and Dion Ebrahim, taken at slip for 31.

Shoaib chipped in with the scalp of skipper Alistair Campbell for two, bowled by the fourth ball he faced, and Guy Whittall five balls after after lunch.

But Grant Flower began the revival with a stoic 31, facing 93 deliveries before he was lbw to Waqar Younis.

And a 63-run stand between Taibu and Blignaut lifted spirits further.

Contrasting fifties

The 19-year-old wicket-keeper's 51 not out, from 118 balls, was just two runs short of doubling his career total in his fifth Test.

Taibu hit his first Test half-century

Blignaut slammed spinner Saqlain Mushtaq over his head first ball for six and then swept him out of the attack with three fours.

A 38-ball knock that brought 51, but he finally edged Sami behind, and the rest of the order subsided for the addition of 26 further runs.

Olonga stuck obstinated to his crease for 37 minutes, scoring just three.

He was at full pace in his first over, having opener Saleem Elahi caught at slip for a duck.

But bad light then took the players from the field 18 overs before the scheduled close.

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.