Between boxing day tests Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in bulawayo Ended in a high-scoring tieBoth teams showed their batting prowess. Zimbabwe scored a stunning 586 in first innings, ahead of star players from centuries Sean Williams, Craig Owen and Brian Bennett. Afghanistan responds with landmark 699, thanks to Hashmatullah Shahidi and a wonderful knock on the door Rahmat Shah. With little time left on the final day of play, Zimbabwe scored 142/4 in the second innings to ensure the game ended in a stalemate.
Zimbabwe sets the tone with huge first innings total
Zimbabwe's first game was a masterclass in calmness and strategic play. Williams led the way with 154 off 174 balls, supported by Owen's patient 104. , not out, accelerated the scoring in the late stages. afghan bowlers by Allah Ghazanfar With three wickets, efforts were made to contain Zimbabwe's batsmen. Navid Zadran and Zahir Khan Each took two wickets but could not stop the home team from amassing a massive total. By the end of the first day of play, Zimbabwe had made their intentions clear. On the second day, Afghanistan started to respond cautiously and won by 95/2 as Rahmat and Shahidi started to form a strong partnership.
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Afghanistan's Supreme Order Dominates: Rahmat Shah and Hashmathullah Shahidi
Afghanistan's answer was based on the historic partnership between Rahmat and Shahidi. Rahmat's marathon 234 and Shahidi's superb 246 were the cornerstones of Afghanistan's total score of 699. Afsar Zazai Contributed a crucial 113, adding depth to the innings. Despite a valiant effort, Zimbabwe's bowlers, led by Bennett's five-wicket haul, could not prevent Afghanistan from taking the lead. By day four, Afghanistan had firmly established their dominance, but with no time to determine the outcome, the game seemed destined to be a draw.
Afghanistan's highest individual score in Test cricket 🏏
246: Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Zimbabwe, 2024
234: Rahmat Shah vs Zimbabwe, 2024#cricket #ZIMvAFG #HashmatullahShahidi #rahmatshah pic.twitter.com/CkIZoe19z0
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 30, 2024
Zimbabwe insists on a draw
Zimbabwe's second innings started cautiously and aggressively as they aimed to erase Afghanistan's slim lead. gambi the joy lord (24) and Ben Curran (41) Provides a solid start but quick wickets Zahir Khan Gazanfar threatens to spoil their innings. However, Williams (35 not out) and Owen (22 not out) stabilized the chase, taking Zimbabwe to 142/4 before the stumps. The disciplined effort from Afghanistan's bowlers was not enough to secure a breakthrough and Zimbabwe managed to beat the final over. The match ended in a tight draw, with both teams taking valuable positives from a game that highlighted their batting depth and resilience.
The game is a draw! 🚨
The first Test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan has been drawn. 👍#AfghanistanAttaran | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/JLd5QKuzWe
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 30, 2024
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