Bulawayo: Saqlain Mushtaq deceived the Zimbabwe batsmen with all kinds of spin and put Pakistan into the driving seat at the end of the first day of the second Test on Saturday.

His seven wickets were not quite a career best in statistical terms, but many cricket aficionados will regard his seven for 66 here as better than the eight for 164 he recorded against England.

At the close, Pakistan was 29 for no loss following Zimbabwe's total of 178 all out. Saqlain has now taken 194 Test wickets and will have his sights on the 200 landmark when Zimbabwe has to face him again.

Waqar Younis brought on Mushtaq before the lunch interval, precisely to do the mop- up job, which he achieved so remarkably. The dry and flat wicket offered the opportunity for big scores but Zimbabwe succumbed early on to the bowling of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, who trapped Dion Ebrahim and Mark Vermeulen leg before for only five and two.

Zimbabwe was 8 for two at that stage and already reeling. The Zimbabwe senior players Alistair Campbell, Grant Flower and Andy Flower tried to form a tripod of resistance and appeared to be succeeding when Campbell and Grant put on 86 for the third wicket.

But Saqlain coaxed a catch out of Campbell for 46 and dismissed Grant Flower lbw for 54 - his 15th half-century - which left only Andy Flower to try and protect the tail- enders.

It is a task he is often faced with, but Saqlain made sure he couldn't do so. In frustration Flower tried to cut a quicker Saqlain ball and put it straight into the hands of Inzamam-ul-Haq at cover.

Saqlain mopped up the remaining minor resistance and Zimbabwe were all out for a miserable 178. Pakistan's Taufeeq Umar and Shaheed Elahi were the not-out batsmen at the close, having scored 16 and 13 respectively.

The scene was set for Pakistan to make a big score and beat the home side by a considerable margin to take the series 2-0. It will then have a big psychological advantage for the five One-day International matches to follow. This kind of thinking rarely comes early to a Test team on the first day but Pakistan should now be able to indulge that luxury.

Waqar Younis handled his bowlers well and the fielding was tight. The only problem he has is the fitness of Shoaib Akhtar, who appeared to have a sore knee but he brushed concerns aside.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Perfect 10 will put Pakistan on track for WC: Wasim