Image Source : Depositphotos
Zimbabwe blocks Afghanistan's chances of winning, resulting in a draw
Zimbabwe blocks Afghanistan's chances of winning, resulting in a draw
After fetching a lead of 113 runs, Afghanistan picked up four wickets late on the final day before running out of time.
Afghanistan made a last attempt for an unlikely win, but Zimbabwe held them off at the end of the final day's play, and the match ended in a draw in the opening Test in Bulawayo.
The game was mostly headed for a draw with both teams scoring heavily in their first innings. There was a bit of excitement towards the end when Afghanistan took a few wickets, but seasoned players Sean Williams and Craig Ervine ensured the match ended as a tie. When the fifth day of play started, it was only a matter of time before Afghanistan took the lead in the first innings.
Hashmatullah Shahidi and Afsar Zazai kept scoring runs, and eventually, Shahidi reached his second double-century in Test cricket. Zazai also scored over 100 runs, making him the third Afghan player in the match, as Zimbabwe struggled on the field. Although Sean Williams finally took a wicket to end their big partnership, Shahidi continued to score until he was out just four runs short of 250.
However, Shahidi's wicket led to a surprising collapse for Afghanistan, as they lost their last five wickets in just four overs. Brian Bennett was the main troublemaker, taking two wickets in consecutive balls and then claiming three wickets in one over, leaving Afghanistan just one run short of 700.
Zimbabwe then responded strongly, but Afghanistan's sudden collapse may have helped create an opportunity for them to push for a win. When Zahir Khan took the first wicket, Zimbabwe was still 40 runs behind. After a rain delay, the hosts needed to survive just 14 overs. However, Ben Curran got run out, and Zahir and AM Ghazanfar took a wicket each, causing panic in the Zimbabwean camp. If Afghanistan could have taken one more wicket at that point, it could have made things really interesting. But Williams and Ervine batted well and were able to hold on until both captains agreed to a draw.
Top Articles
See more
Shami, fully pain-free, aims to play domestic matches to prove his fitness for Australia
22 Oct 2024
New Zealand Fast Bowler Ben Sears Misses India Tour; Uncapped Jacob Duffy Added to Squad
15 Oct 2024
Sri Lanka Selects Former England Star Ian Bell as Batting Coach for Upcoming Test Series
14 Aug 2024
Get live cricket scores and insightful articles at Giritech Data Intelligence Pvt. Ltd. Follow your favorite matches and read expert analyses, player profiles, and more. Your ultimate destination for cricket updates and in-depth coverage.
Any Questions? Contact us at: contact@gamegiri.com
Copyright & Design By Giritech Data Intelligence Pvt. Ltd - 2025 All rights reserved.