Fawad Alam has completed a fourth Test century as he guided Pakistan to 6-374 and a commanding lead of 198 at the close of play on the second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.
The tourists, replying to their hosts' modest first-innings score of 176, were grateful to their unorthodox middle-order batsman Fawad, who takes a bizarre front-on stance at the crease, as he led the way on Friday with an unbeaten 108 from 155 balls.
Fawad has now reached a hundred on all four occasions that he has passed 50 in Test cricket and he'll resume on the third morning on a slow wicket with allrounder Hasan Ali (21 not out), who can score quick runs.
Opener Imran Butt fell nine runs short of a first Test century following a patient 91 from 236 balls as he became a first scalp in the longer format for debutant seamer Richard Ngarava.
Fellow opener Abid Ali (60) also weighed in with a half-century but it was a day to forget for in-form captain Babar Azam as he was out first ball.
Babar pushed a delivery from seamer Donald Tiripano (3-89) straight to a short mid-on for a major breakthrough for the home side, but they could not capitalise on the fall of two quick wickets and are now facing a big first-innings deficit.
Australian Associated Press
