699/10 (197.0)
CR : 3.55
RR : 0.00
Match Drawn
Player of the Match
Hashmatullah Shahidi
0/16246(474)
8:36 PM IST and 5:06 PM Local Time | The first Test match of the ongoing two match series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan has ended in a draw. A total of 1428 runs were scored in this Test match, the highest ever in any Test in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe came to bat first in this Test match and the batters enjoyed their time on the flat deck. Ben Curran, the debutant opener got his maiden Test fifty and got out for 68 off 74 balls. The middle order batters batted well as Sean Williams and Craig Ervine stitched a 163-run partnership between them. Ervine contributed 104 but Sean Williams scored his highest ever Test score as he scored 154 runs. Brian Bennett took the charge after that and he progressed the innings with the tail-enders. He remained unbeaten on 110 to help Zimbabwe post 586 runs, their highest ever total in a Test innings.
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, the debutant mystery spinner took 3 wickets. Zahir Khan, Zia-ur-Rehman and Naveed Zadran took a couple of wickets each for the visitors.
Zimbabwe came to bat first in this Test match and the batters enjoyed their time on the flat deck. Ben Curran, the debutant opener got his maiden Test fifty and got out for 68 off 74 balls. The middle order batters batted well as Sean Williams and Craig Ervine stitched a 163-run partnership between them. Ervine contributed 104 but Sean Williams scored his highest ever Test score as he scored 154 runs. Brian Bennett took the charge after that and he progressed the innings with the tail-enders. He remained unbeaten on 110 to help Zimbabwe post 586 runs, their highest ever total in a Test innings.
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, the debutant mystery spinner took 3 wickets. Zahir Khan, Zia-ur-Rehman and Naveed Zadran took a couple of wickets each for the visitors.
Earlier coming to bat, Afghanistan lost Sediqullah Atal for just 3. But the other opener Abdul Malik stayed for a bit there and he made a 61-run partnership with Rahmat Shah. Malik got out for 23 and the marathon partnership started for the Afghans. Rahmat Shah was joined by the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi in the crease.
Rahmat and Shahidi registered a record-breaking 364 run partnership between them. They were solid in their gameplay and eventually went on to score double hundreds. Rahmat finished with 234 runs from 424 balls hitting 23 fours and 3 maximums. However after his dismissal, Shahidi got the company of Afsar Zazai, the wicket-keeper. They played 341 balls in their partnership to score 211 runs. Afsar Zazai got his first Test hundred before getting out on 113. Shahidi completed his double century and got out for 246 off 474 balls.
After Shahidi's dismissal, only Shahidullah Kamal added a few runs on the board. The lower order fell rapidly and the Afghans got bundled out for 699 and Kamal remained unbeaten on 29.
Brian Bennett took a fifer to dismantle the lower order of Afghanistan. Sean Williams took 2 wickets. The pace trio of Trevor Gwandu, Blessing Muzarabani and Newman Nyamhuri took a wicket each.
Zimbabwe came to bat in the third innings with a trail of 113 runs. Ben Curran started the innings on an aggressive note. He was well accompanied by Joylord Gumbie, the other opener. The play was halted for 54 minutes in the third session and when it resumed, the Afghan spinners showed some domination. Zahir removed Gumbie who looked vulnerable, Kaitano was trapped in front by Zahir a few balls later and Ghazanfar hoodwinked Dion Myers with a carrom ball. Adding salt to the wound, Ben Curran got run out. These events led Zimbabwe to get reduced to 88 for 4.
But two senior campaigners, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams denied any further debacle. They batted firmly to remain unbeaten and Zimbabwe were at 142 for 4 at the time of golden handshake.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation.
Zimbabwe came to bat in the third innings with a trail of 113 runs. Ben Curran started the innings on an aggressive note. He was well accompanied by Joylord Gumbie, the other opener. The play was halted for 54 minutes in the third session and when it resumed, the Afghan spinners showed some domination. Zahir removed Gumbie who looked vulnerable, Kaitano was trapped in front by Zahir a few balls later and Ghazanfar hoodwinked Dion Myers with a carrom ball. Adding salt to the wound, Ben Curran got run out. These events led Zimbabwe to get reduced to 88 for 4.
But two senior campaigners, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams denied any further debacle. They batted firmly to remain unbeaten and Zimbabwe were at 142 for 4 at the time of golden handshake.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation.
Time for the post-match presentations.
Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe Captain): "Certainly I was happy with the total. The intensitry which Ben Curran showed, made a good platform for us. I was discussing with Williams to keep the things nice and simple. Just don't do anything extravagant and keep the patience.
A lot of credit should go to the bowlers for controlling the run rate as it hovered around 3.1 to 3.4. I think they have given a massive effort in this Test. I think there's always a lot to learn from the five day cricket. We will dissect and analyze going back.
I think Trevor Gwandu has done well. Two days is not a long time before another five day game. We will make sure we get good rest."
A lot of credit should go to the bowlers for controlling the run rate as it hovered around 3.1 to 3.4. I think they have given a massive effort in this Test. I think there's always a lot to learn from the five day cricket. We will dissect and analyze going back.
I think Trevor Gwandu has done well. Two days is not a long time before another five day game. We will make sure we get good rest."
Player of the Match: Hashmatullah Shahidi
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Player of the Match and Afghanistan Captain): "Feeling really happy to do special thing for my country. Hopefully I think I can help my country win a few matches and hopefully more to come.
I don't follow social media but the fans have all the rights to criticize or praise us. I think me, Rahmat and Afsar did well. Hopefully, our country people are happy with the performance. We wanted to play the fourth day and give them the last 30 minutes. But rain came.
Pitch was different in the first day. Flat and balls were coming nicely. Our bowlers bowled a few loose balls to get hit for a few boundaries but they came back well. Rahmat with the bat was great. The partnership was good. He should get the credit for the way he batted. Hopefully he continues to do well."
I don't follow social media but the fans have all the rights to criticize or praise us. I think me, Rahmat and Afsar did well. Hopefully, our country people are happy with the performance. We wanted to play the fourth day and give them the last 30 minutes. But rain came.
Pitch was different in the first day. Flat and balls were coming nicely. Our bowlers bowled a few loose balls to get hit for a few boundaries but they came back well. Rahmat with the bat was great. The partnership was good. He should get the credit for the way he batted. Hopefully he continues to do well."
Highest Innings Total at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo in a Test Match:
1) 713/3- Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (2004)
2) 699- Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe (2024)
3) 586- Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan (2024)
4) 582/4- New Zealand vs Zimbabwe (2016)
5) 576/6- New Zealand vs Zimbabwe (2016)
1) 713/3- Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (2004)
2) 699- Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe (2024)
3) 586- Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan (2024)
4) 582/4- New Zealand vs Zimbabwe (2016)
5) 576/6- New Zealand vs Zimbabwe (2016)
Highest Match Aggregate at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo in a Test Match:
1) 1427- Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan (2024)
2) 1366- Zimbabwe vs New Zealand (1997)
3) 1322- Zimbabwe vs New Zealand (2011)
4) 1242- Zimbabwe vs New Zealand (2016)
5) 1220- Zimbabwe vs England (1996)
1) 1427- Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan (2024)
2) 1366- Zimbabwe vs New Zealand (1997)
3) 1322- Zimbabwe vs New Zealand (2011)
4) 1242- Zimbabwe vs New Zealand (2016)
5) 1220- Zimbabwe vs England (1996)
Highest Individual Score for Afghanistan in a Test Match:
1) 246- Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, 2024)
2) 234- Rahmat Shah vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, 2024)
3) 200- Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Zimbabwe (Abu Dhabi, 2021)
4) 164- Asghar Afghan vs Zimbabwe (Abu Dhabi, 2021)
5) 114- Ibrahim Zadran vs Sri Lanka (Colombo, 2024)
1) 246- Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, 2024)
2) 234- Rahmat Shah vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, 2024)
3) 200- Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Zimbabwe (Abu Dhabi, 2021)
4) 164- Asghar Afghan vs Zimbabwe (Abu Dhabi, 2021)
5) 114- Ibrahim Zadran vs Sri Lanka (Colombo, 2024)
That's all from our end from this Test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. After two days time, the action will get underway at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo for the series decider.
For now, I am Saptak Sanyal, signing off on behalf of the scorer/analyst of this game Sahil Khan. Good night.
For now, I am Saptak Sanyal, signing off on behalf of the scorer/analyst of this game Sahil Khan. Good night.