Zimbabwe has taken a commanding position as they closed the day`s proceedings leading Afghanistan by 3 runs in the one-off test match being played at the Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe won the toss and selected to bowl restricting the visitors to 127 all out. in response, Zimbabwe closed the day at 130/2.
It was a day of utter dominance from the hosts who were pretty poor in the first hour, but then upped their game and Afghanistan’s fell away – 77 for 1 became 127 all-out in no time.
Starts for the top-3, but no one went past Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 37. A few loose shots, some good bowling and the hosts were all over the visitors like a rash.
Five wickets for the impressive Brad Evans, who was playing in only his 2nd Test, first since 2023.
With the bowlers having put them in ascendancy, the home batters then played the patient game – Brian Bennett was dismissed early, but Ben Curran and Nick Welch rode their luck to stitch a 97-run 2nd wicket stand.
The former got to his half-century, his 2nd in Tests while the latter’s luck eventually ended on 49. Brendan Taylor has already started positively, Zimbabwe are already into the lead and they’ll look to make the most of the good batting conditions tomorrow.
For Afghanistan, it’s all about being patient and restricting the home team to as small a lead as possible.
3
0
85.71
Bowler
O
M
R
W
ECO
3
0
14
0
4.67
13
2
35
2
2.69
Key Stats
Partnership: 24(29)
Last Wkt: Nick Welch b Ziaur Rahman Sharifi 49(89) – 106/2 in 33.1 ov.
Last 10 overs: 45 runs, 1 wkts
Toss: Zimbabwe (Bowling)
