359/10 (103.0)
CR : 3.49
127/10 (32.3)
CR : 3.91
Zimbabwe won by an innings and 73 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Ben Curran
121(256)
ZIM won by an innings and 73 runs
4:54 PM IST, 1:24 PM local time: Zimbabwe win by an innings and 73 runs. Their first Test win at home in 12 years.
The music coming from the stands is loud and radiates a feeling of joy that is contagious. The fans on the grass banks are waving the Zimbabwe flag and each one of them is doing a little dance of their own to celebrate a result that they have waited for a while. How good the month of October has been for them? First, they secured a qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup earlier this month. And now this.
This victory will bring joy to the Chevrons akin to that of having a sumptuous meal after a whole day of fasting; or that of experiencing rain post months of famine. Remember, coming into this match Zimbabwe had lost 6 Tests on a trot — four of them by an innings. Here, they haven't just registered a win, but have handed the opposition a thrashing.
Zoom in and you will find that within this contest, each hero that emerged was fighting a battle of his own. Brad Evans, who was the wrecker-in-chief in the first innings, was playing his first Test in two years. Ben Curran, whose maiden Test ton laid the foundation for Zimbabwe's big total, was averaging 26 coming into this match. Richard Ngarava, who has taken a fifer in the second innings, had not picked a Test wicket since April.
However, every one came together and contributed to script a win that fans present at the Harare Sports Club will remember for a while to come. Blessing Muzarabani, who now has the most wickets in Tests in 2025, was another shining light. As was Sikandar Raza, who made contributions with the bat as well as in the field.
For Afghanistan, the only palpable positive was Zia ur Rahman's 7fer. The fast bowling department was thin on experience and will only get better. However, it is the batting that let them down in this match. They only had four individual scores of 30+ across both the innings. Yes, the conditions were foreign, but by no means hostile. Even today, their best batters — Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz — got out strangled down the leg side. They will need to learn from these mistakes and execute better going forward.
The music coming from the stands is loud and radiates a feeling of joy that is contagious. The fans on the grass banks are waving the Zimbabwe flag and each one of them is doing a little dance of their own to celebrate a result that they have waited for a while. How good the month of October has been for them? First, they secured a qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup earlier this month. And now this.
This victory will bring joy to the Chevrons akin to that of having a sumptuous meal after a whole day of fasting; or that of experiencing rain post months of famine. Remember, coming into this match Zimbabwe had lost 6 Tests on a trot — four of them by an innings. Here, they haven't just registered a win, but have handed the opposition a thrashing.
Zoom in and you will find that within this contest, each hero that emerged was fighting a battle of his own. Brad Evans, who was the wrecker-in-chief in the first innings, was playing his first Test in two years. Ben Curran, whose maiden Test ton laid the foundation for Zimbabwe's big total, was averaging 26 coming into this match. Richard Ngarava, who has taken a fifer in the second innings, had not picked a Test wicket since April.
However, every one came together and contributed to script a win that fans present at the Harare Sports Club will remember for a while to come. Blessing Muzarabani, who now has the most wickets in Tests in 2025, was another shining light. As was Sikandar Raza, who made contributions with the bat as well as in the field.
For Afghanistan, the only palpable positive was Zia ur Rahman's 7fer. The fast bowling department was thin on experience and will only get better. However, it is the batting that let them down in this match. They only had four individual scores of 30+ across both the innings. Yes, the conditions were foreign, but by no means hostile. Even today, their best batters — Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz — got out strangled down the leg side. They will need to learn from these mistakes and execute better going forward.
Time for the post-match presentation!
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan captain): "First of all, they played really good cricket. When it comes to conditions, they supported fast bowlers. The ball was seaming around. We wanted to bat first, but we played bad cricket.
If you see, we were 80/1 after the first hour. But then, we gave back to back wickets and did not recover well. That was due to the less experience of playing Test cricket. The first day is important. Zia ur Rahman bowled really well. When we were playing first class cricket, I was playing in the same team as him. I thought he can do well in Test cricket. I hope he continues to play for Afghanistan for a long time."
If you see, we were 80/1 after the first hour. But then, we gave back to back wickets and did not recover well. That was due to the less experience of playing Test cricket. The first day is important. Zia ur Rahman bowled really well. When we were playing first class cricket, I was playing in the same team as him. I thought he can do well in Test cricket. I hope he continues to play for Afghanistan for a long time."
Player of the Match: Ben Curran
Ben Curran (Player of the Match): "Very delighted with my performance. I was coming from an injury that occurred in England. But coming from an injury and straight into the game against New Zealand was hard. (But) This Test match was really special for me.
Getting a win like this is really special. I am delighted. After New Zealand (Test), I worked on my plans, thought of my plans - you need to work around to succeed at this level. A special shoutout to the batting coach (Dion Ebrahim), he helped me a lot."
Getting a win like this is really special. I am delighted. After New Zealand (Test), I worked on my plans, thought of my plans - you need to work around to succeed at this level. A special shoutout to the batting coach (Dion Ebrahim), he helped me a lot."
Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe captain): "I am ecstatic. A lot of credit to the boys for fighting hard throughout the year. It is a nice end to the year. Winning the toss was the first piece of the puzzle. The way we bowled in the second hour was amazing. We built on that for the rest of the day. And then, BC's (Ben Curran) innings. He exhibited composure and discipline. We hadn't played a Test match at this venue for a number of years, so the boys adjusted well. We have learnt a lot over the course of this year. Brad (Evans) was fantastic in the first innings. Richard Ngarava and TK (Chivanga) were good too. And then, obviously you have Bless (Muzarabani), who ran in short bursts and delivered. Would have loved to see him get more wickets."
Biggest Wins for Zimbabwe in Test Cricket:
By an innings & 73 runs vs Afghanistan, Harare, 2025, This Match*
By an innings & 64 Runs vs Pakistan, Harare, 1995
By an innings & 32 Runs vs Bangladesh, Bulawayo, 2001
By an innings & 73 runs vs Afghanistan, Harare, 2025, This Match*
By an innings & 64 Runs vs Pakistan, Harare, 1995
By an innings & 32 Runs vs Bangladesh, Bulawayo, 2001
This is a massive victory for Zimbabwe, as they bagged their biggest Test win, and it came in the last Test of this calendar year. After losing six straight Test matches, Zimbabwe gave their fans plenty to enjoy.
However, for Afghanistan, they will look to make a turnaround in the T20I series, with the first game to commence next week on Wednesday. Let's see how the T20Is unfold... Until then, switch tabs for live action from across the globe.
This is Arjun Bhalla signing off on behalf of my colleagues - Darpan Tikya, Rajesh Pal, and Aman (Stats Guy).
However, for Afghanistan, they will look to make a turnaround in the T20I series, with the first game to commence next week on Wednesday. Let's see how the T20Is unfold... Until then, switch tabs for live action from across the globe.
This is Arjun Bhalla signing off on behalf of my colleagues - Darpan Tikya, Rajesh Pal, and Aman (Stats Guy).