Hasan Raza leads Pakistan A's charge

Pakistan A 256 for 6 (Raza 137, Mupariwa 3-37) v Zimbabwe A
Scorecard

Hasan Raza dazzled amid the gloom at Harare as his excellent 137 piloted Pakistan A to 256 for 6 at the end of the first day against Zimbabwe A.

The Zimbabwean bowlers vindicated their captain's decision to field first by picking up wickets at regular intervals. All the Pakistani top-order batsmen got starts but except Raza none managed to cash in with a big score. Blessing Mahwire and Tawanda Mupariwa, the two medium pacers, were chiefly responsible for pegging back the Pakistanis' innings.

Raza, though, carried on despite not having too much support and cracked 17 fours and five sixes while making an excellent 137. He finally fell late in the day to Mahwire but by then the Pakistanis had got out of a tough situation. The Pakistanis lead the series 1-0 after a thrilling three-wicket victory in the first game in the Country Club at Harare.