Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 1st Test Day 2: Zimbabwe in control after hitting 586 in 1st Innings

Zimbabwe celebrate

©X@ZimCricketv

By Cricket World Staff

Friday 27 December 2024

Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe

1st Test, Bulawayo

Toss delayed due to wet outfield

Zimbabwe586/10 & 142/4

Afghanistan699/10

Scorecard

Stats

Zimbabwe hit a massive 586 all out in their 1st Innings, and then took 2 wickets, to give them control of the 1st Test against Afghanistan today, at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Match Summary

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 1st Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe 586/10 (135.2 ov)

Afghanistan *95/2 (30 ov)

Stumps : Day 2 - Afghanistan trail by 491 runs

SCORECARD

Match Analysis

Test records for Zimbabwe and Williams as Afghanistan toil

Zimbabwe and their veteran batter Sean Williams created Test records on Friday against Afghanistan, who trailed by 491 runs after the second day of the first Test in Bulawayo.

Resuming on 363 for four, the home side were all out for 586 at Queens Sports Club in the southern city. Afghanistan were 95 for two off 30 overs in reply when bad light stopped play.

The Zimbabwe first innings total was their highest in a Test, bettering 563 for nine against the West Indies in Harare 23 years ago. It was the sixth Zimbabwe innings to exceed 500 runs.

Having made 145 runs on the first day, Williams added nine more before being caught by Rahmat Shah close to the boundary line off a Naveed Zadran bouncer.

His 154 overtook a previous best of 151 not out, also against Afghanistan, in Abu Dhabi three years ago.

Williams, batting at No. 4, struck three sixes and 10 fours off 174 balls in a 266-minute stand in the city where he was born. It was his fourth century in six Tests.

His partnerships included 163 for the fifth wicket with captain Craig Ervine, who went on to make 104, including 10 fours, before his inside edge was snapped up by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.

"If I can lead by example and not by talking I believe my young teammates will learn quickly," said 38-year-old Williams.

Zimbabwe fielded three debutants, including 68-run opener Ben Curran, and three others are making just their second Test appearances.

Middle-order Brian Bennett was another Zimbabwe centurion, hitting a brisk unbeaten 110 that included four sixes and five fours.

Teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar was the most successful Afghanistan bowler, but his three wickets proved expensive as he conceded 127 runs.

The Afghanistan innings began disastrously with Test newcomer Sediqullah Atal out for three in the second over after a Trevor Gwandu delivery uprooted his middle stump.

Fellow opener Abdul Malik was dismissed for 23 before Shah patiently built an unbeaten 49 that included a six and five fours. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was 16 not out.

Both teams are seeking a first Test victory since beating each other three years ago.

??: Snapshots from the morning session on Day 2 of the #ZIMvAFG test match at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. ??#AfghanAtalan | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/yQOrcG1xuz
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 27, 2024

Match Stats

Zimbabwe 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Joylord Gumbie - 9.3 ov), 2-92 (Ben Curran - 25.3 ov), 3-170 (Takudzwanashe Kaitano - 44.3 ov), 4-220 (Dion Myers - 55.2 ov), 5-383 (Sean Williams - 90.3 ov), 6-465 (Craig Ervine - 110.2 ov), 7-465 (Brandon Mavuta - 110.4 ov), 8-506 (Newman Nyamhuri - 121.4 ov), 9-548 (Blessing Muzarabani - 131.1 ov), 10-586 (Trevor Gwandu - 135.2 ov)

Afghanistan 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Sediqullah Atal - 1.5 ov), 2-64 (Abdul Malik - 22.3 ov)