In the first Test of the series at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe took 197 overs, or more than two full days, to dismiss Afghanistan for 10 wickets. However, in the first innings of the second Test, Zimbabwe needed just 44.3 overs to bowl Afghanistan out on the same ground.
In the first Test, Afghanistan had two players who scored double centuries in their first innings. But today, under Hashmatullah Shahidi’s captaincy, Afghanistan couldn’t even reach 200 runs, folding for just 157. By the end of the first day, Zimbabwe had taken to the crease, scoring 6 runs without losing a wicket in 3 overs.
The match started nearly four hours late due to rain and a damp outfield. A total of 47.3 overs were played during the day. Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and chose to bowl, making the most of the conditions. The bowlers took full advantage of the situation.
Rashid Khan, who came in at No. 8, was Afghanistan’s highest scorer of the day, making 25 runs off 20 balls in his first Test match back after almost four years. None of the double centurions from the previous Test, Rahmat Shah (19) or Hashmatullah (13), could manage to score more than 20 runs today.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza and Newman Nyamheri both claimed 3 wickets each. Nyamheri had made his debut as a pace bowler in the first Test of the series. Blessing Muzarabani also took 2 wickets. The first Test ended in a draw.
Match Summary:
- Afghanistan 1st Innings: 157 all out in 44.3 overs (Rashid 25, Rahmat 19; Raza 3/30, Nyamheri 3/42).
- Zimbabwe 1st Innings: 6/0 in 3 overs (Gambie 4*, Karan 1*; Yamin 4/0, Rashid 1/0).
