Spinners lead Pak to victory in first Test against Zimbabwe

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 221 runs to win the first Test of the series at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, their victory boosted by the nine wickets taken by their spinners in an extended morning session.

According to Sport24, Zimbabwe, set an unlikely 342 to win, were bowled out for 120, and the victory was also boosted by an unbeaten double century by veteran Younis Khan, who was later named Man of the Match.

The report said that left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan came to the attack initially by taking two wickets in his first eight balls of the day, which was then followed by spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal, who took four wickets apiece.

The report mentioned that Ajmal finished with match figures of 11 for 118, the fourth time he had taken 10 or more wickets in a match.

According to the report, play was extended when Zimbabwe were eight down at the scheduled lunch break, enabling Pakistan to complete an early victory in a match in which Zimbabwe had the better of the first three day's play.

Admitting that Zimbabwe won the game for three-and-a-half days, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq credited Younis for playing a match-winning innings that changed the game, adding that his team needs to improve in the second Test, which starts at the same venue on Tuesday.