AFG vs ZIM | Twitter heaps praises as Zimbabwe takes driving seat with three-run lead on first day of Harare Test

ByUmesh Sharma,SportsCafe Editor

Yesterday at 8:51 PM

The hosts, Zimbabwe dominated the first day of the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan, at the Harare Sports Club in Afghanistan. Zimbabwe won the toss and asked the tourists to bat first before bundling them at the score of just 127 runs in the first innings, followed by securing a good lead.

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe took on each other on the first day of the Only Test at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. The hosts skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and asked Afghanistan to bat first at the Harare surface, which looked quite bowling-friendly in the first half of the first day of the game.

Batting first, Afghanistan faced an early at the team score of just 23 runs in 5.4 overs, losing Ibrahim Zadran (19) caught by Nick Welch off Blessing Muzarabani on the fourth ball of the sixth over. Then came a stabilizing partnership of 54 runs for the second wicket between Abdul Malik and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. This partnership ended when Gurbaz fell prey to Tanaka Chivanga in the 16th over, at the individual score of 37 runs off 37 balls, with three four. Following Gurbaz’s dismissal, it was only Abdul Malik to display a bit of resistance against the Zimbabwean bowling attack, amidst a horrific batting collapse for Afghanistan. Later in the innings, only Bahir Shah (12) Yamin Ahmadzai (10) were the two batters to touch the double-digit mark as an individual score. Eventually, the tourists were bundled out at the score of just 127 runs in 32.3 overs.

Star all-rounder Brad Evans shone with the ball, claiming a sensational five-wicket haul, picking five wickets for just 22 runs in 9.3 overs, including two maiden overs. His five-wicket haul was accompanied by his fellow pacer Muzarabani’s brilliant bowling performance, who bagged three wickets for 47 runs in his 11 overs, including a maiden over. Besides these two, Tanaka Chivanga also registered his name on the scoreboard, with a wicket for 29 runs in his six overs.

In response to Afghanistan’s 127, Zimbabwe posted 130/2 at the time of stumps on the first day of the game. Ben Curran went unbeaten at the individual score of 52 runs, scoring a well deserved half-century, alongside Brendon Taylor who scored unbeaten 19 runs. Ziaur Rahman scalped two wickets for 30 runs in his 12 overs for Afghanistan.

The hosts dominate Harare Test on day 1

WOW! WOW! WOW!

— Robinson (@Robinson966715)

Briliant!

What a ball!
— Robinson (@Robinson966715)

Agreed!

Crazy stuff that is!!!
— Robinson (@Robinson966715)

Crazy ball!

Cartwheelinggggg!
— Robinson (@Robinson966715)

Yupe!

That's how you bowl!
— Robinson (@Robinson966715)

Yeah he did great job!

Nick Welch makes a strong push towards his fourth Test half-century,

narrowly missing the mark by just one run. 😢
— Jitendra Kumar (@jitenda60203698)

Hahaha!