Mini-session Analysis, 2nd test, Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Harare 2013

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the second test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-Session	Score	Winner
1-1a	Zimbabwe 29/1 off 14	Pakistan
1-1b	Zimbabwe 36/1 off 13	Pakistan
1-2a	Zimbabwe 44/0 off 17	Zimbabwe
1-2b	Zimbabwe 56/1 off 15	Zimbabwe
1-3a	Zimbabwe 25/3 off 14	Pakistan
1-3b	Zimbabwe 47/2 off 17	Pakistan
2-1a	Zimbabwe 41/1 off 16	Zimbabwe
2-1b	Zimbabwe 16/1 off 3.5	draw
	Pakistan 24/0 off 8
2-2a	Pakistan 32/1 off 14	Zimbabwe
2-2b	Pakistan 39/1 off 15	Zimbabwe
2-3a	Pakistan 40/1 off 16	Zimbabwe
2-3b	Pakistan 28/0 off 15	draw
3-1a	Pakistan 21/1 off 15	Zimbabwe
3-1b	Pakistan 27/1 off 13	Zimbabwe
3-2a	Pakistan 19/5 off 8.5	Zimbabwe
3-2b	Zimbabwe 30/1 off 14	Pakistan
3-3a	Zimbabwe 44/0 off 15	Zimbabwe
3-3b	Zimbabwe 47/3 off 21.2	Pakistan
4-1a	Zimbabwe 28/1 off 15.4	Pakistan
4-1b	Zimbabwe 23/2 off 14	Pakistan
4-2a	Zimbabwe 27/3 off 9.5	Pakistan
4-2b	Pakistan 55/2 off 15	Zimbabwe
4-3a	Pakistan 55/2 off 15	Zimbabwe
4-3b	Pakistan 48/1 off 19	Pakistan
5-1a	Pakistan 29/1 off 14	draw
5-1b	Pakistan 30/2 off 13	Zimbabwe
5-2a	Pakistan 22/2 off 5	Zimbabwe

Final update, click here

Zimbabwe win the match by 24 runs and the mini-session count 15.5 - 11.5


First drinks, Day 1: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 1-0

Poor Tino Mawoyo. His position is under some threat and he gets caught off his thigh pad. Some players just seem to have bad luck follow them.

Stumps, Day 1: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 4-2

Pakistan take day one. Zimbabwe are in serious danger of being bowled out for less than 250 here.

Lunch, Day 2: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 4.5-3.5

After a good tail wag, the Zimbabwean bowlers had a chance to have a crack at the Pakistani batsmen. The change from Chatara to Vitori with the new ball seemed to give the Pakistani batsmen a little less trouble, and they looked reasonably secure.

Stumps, Day 2: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 7-5

It certainly doesn't feel like Zimbabwe are winning, but it's difficult to find any hour where Pakistan was the dominant team today.

First drinks, Day 3: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 8-5

The new ball did the trick. Pakistan had only managed 182 in the first 80 overs, and the fall of the wicket has meant that they still have a lot of work to do, despite having batted for 83 overs already.

Lunch, Day 3: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 9-5

Another hour without many runs and one wicket. This game is going very slowly. However the last match showed us that things can change very quickly.

Change of innings, Day 3: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 10-5

Panyangara broke through, then Vitori finished it off. Zimbabwe have another first innings lead.

Tea, Day 3: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 10-6

While Pakistan will be happy to have taken a wicket, but it wasn't worth as much as a first wicket normally is, in that it was Prosper Utseya who had stood in for an unwell Vusi Sibanda.

Stumps, Day 3: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 11-7

4 overs earlier this was convincingly Zimbabwe's hour. Then 3 wickets in 9 balls and the game changed quickly. Prior to that burst tomorrow was lining up as a chance for Zimbabwe to set a target. Instead it's now going to be a competitive day of cricket which could go either way.

In the last match Zimbabwe failed to halt the shift of momentum. The challenge for them in this match is to find a way to take the wind out of Pakistan's sails.

Middle drinks, Day 4: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 11-10

Normally teams score about the same number of runs for the first 4 wickets as they do for the last 6. In this case, however Zimbabwe had 2 bowlers as part of their first 4, and so should have been expected to score at least 250. Pakistan will be happy with their morning's work. They still have a lot to do with the bat, but this is a good looking target. Close enough to go fo, but big enough that it will be difficult.

Stumps, Day 4: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 13-11

This game is in such a fantastic balance. A quick wicket tomorrow and then Brian Vitori gets a chance to have a crack at the tail. He has a history of looking good when he bowls at lesser batsmen, and that was a skill that Zimbabwe was short of in the last match.

All in all it's another one of these tests that Zimbabwe seem to produce regularly where the game is quite dull for the first couple of days and the very interesting at the end.

First drinks, Day 5: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 13.5-11.5

The early wicket was followed by some slow accumulation. Good cricket.

Lunch, Day 5: Zimbabwe lead the mini-session count 14.5-11.5

Can Misbah do it? As per usual, the rest of Pakistan have left him carrying a heavy load.

End of match, Day 5: Zimbabwe win the match by 24 and the mini-session count 15.5-11.5

A fantastic victory for Zimbabwe. Pakistan got close, but Zimbabwe were not to be stopped today. After getting close a few times at home, they have managed to knock off one of the big boys for the first time since reacquiring test status.