Zimbabwe made to toil on opening day

Pakistan Academy 330 for 6 (Shehzad 76, Asad 56*, Garwe 2-33) v Zimbabwe Board XI

	Ahmed Shehzad lines up a booming drive on the first day in Harare © Cricinfo Ltd Enlarge

Zimbabwe Board XI's bowlers toiled as the Pakistan National Cricket Academy reached 330 for 6 at stumps on day 1 of the first four-day match at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

The Zimbabweans' only success in the first two sessions of the match were the wickets of Khurram Manzoor, captain and opener who was snatched by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva off Prosper Tsvanhu for 7. They then went through a barren spell as Ahmed Shehzad capitalised on generous width from the Zimbabwe frontline bowlers.

He picked up the half-volleys and drove elegantly in an attacking innings. Just when he was settling and looking to build a big score, he was caught by Tafadzwa Ngulube in the slips off Trevor Garwe after carving 12 fours in a 93-ball innings.

All-rounder Fawad Alam, who has played 10 ODIs for Pakistan, came in at number four and hit 55 before succumbing to the Garwe-Ngulube combination. And the emerging Zimbabwe offspinner, Timycem Maruma, claimed two key wickets: clean-bowling Asad Shafiq (58) before trapping Fahad Iqbal (50) lbw.

Ali Asad was not-out on 56, while Anwar Ali went to stumps unbeaten on 12.