Feature

Rahat Ali does a Donald

Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the second Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Harare

Khurram Manzoor raises the bat after reaching his fifty, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Harare, 4th day, September 13, 2013

Khurram Manzoor's celebrations were short-lived after he completed his fifty  •  AFP

Allan Donald impersonation of the day
Rahat Ali is a much improved bowler from the nervous debutant who was carted around South African fields earlier in the year. His improvement resulted in his second five-wicket haul and his celebration seemed a copy of someone from the country he toiled so hard against. As Adnan Akmal took the catch Tendai Chatara offered after trying to hoick Rahat over cow corner, the bowler spread his arms and aeroplane-jogged his way down the field. How very Donald-like.
Delivery of the day
Chatara was Zimbabwe's best bowler in the first 20 overs and produced a beauty to get rid of Azhar Ali. The ball pitched on off stump and angled in to beat the No.3 batsman to go past his outside edge. It connected with the top of off stump and sent it cartwheeling past the wicketkeeper. Although this match has produced many wickets, this was the first that came with the dramatic effects.
Praise of the day
Richmond Mutumbami was the pundits' pick to be dropped for the second Test because of his lack of contribution with the bat but he showed why he deserves his spot as a wicketkeeper with an array of athletic saves. One of his best came after tea when Chatara swayed too far down the leg side as he tried to crank the pace up. Mutumbami had to make ground and stop the ball one-handed before it got away from him and he managed to. "Great stop, Richie," came the cry from the change room where coach Andy Waller was egging his gloveman on.
Disappointment of the day
Khurram Manzoor has probably done enough to keep his place as opener for Pakistan in their next series against South Africa with twin fifties in the match. But he was gutted with the way he was dismissed. Prosper Utseya asked for a short leg and Manzoor offered him catching practice by going forward, misjudging the turn and bat-padding it straight to the fielder. While Utseya celebrated, Manzoor wore a pained expression which he did not take off as he made the walk back to the change room.
Hug of the day
Things were getting slightly away from Zimbabwe with Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq scoring without much trouble before Utseya got Shafiq to edge while trying to cut him away. Mutumbami took a good catch and Zimbabwe celebrated the breakthrough with gusto. Brendan Taylor, in his excitement, embraced Utseya so violently, the diminutive offspinner found himself on the ground. His team-mates were soon around him and it took Utseya a few moments before he could find his feet again.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent