ZIM vs AFG 2024/25, Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st Test, Day 2, Bulawayo Match Report, December 26 – 30, 2024

Afghanistan 95 for two (Rahmat 49*) path Zimbabwe 586 (Bennett 110*, Ervine 104, Ghazanfar 3-127) by 491 runs

Williams set the tone early with a minimize by level to go 150. He aggressive to the leg facet however mistimed a pull off Naveen Zadran to deep midwicket, including solely 9 to his in a single day rating earlier than departing for 154 within the day’s sixth over.

The No. 7 Bennett, enjoying solely his second Take a look at, then regarded busy upon arrival. His early strokes allowed Ervine, beginning in a single day on 56, to get his eyes in, and collectively they placed on 82 in solely 20.2 overs for the sixth wicket. Ervine confirmed off his ease in opposition to spin to dominate sq. of the wicket. He reached triple figures with a flick in the direction of backward sq. leg within the 109th over, took off his helmet, and revealed a smile that bore a sense of satisfaction.

Left-arm spinner Zia-Ur-Rehman had Ervine nicking to the keeper for 104 two overs later, adopted by Brandon Mavuta’s dismissal for 0 in the identical over, these two wickets didn’t carry any respite for the inexperienced Afghanistan bowling unit. The flip was predictable, the pacers have been ineffective, permitting Bennett and the lower-order to attain freely.

Nonetheless Muzarabani fell with Zimbabwe at 550 for 9, incomes Azmatullah Omarzai a maiden Take a look at wicket, and with solely the No. 11 remaining, Bennett, on 82, moved to fifth gear. A six off Zia-ur-Rehman by midwicket took him to 89, and back-to-back twos in Trevor Gwandu’s firm obtained him nearer to triple digits. His 96th run additionally took Zimbabwe to 564, a brand new excessive of their 32-year historical past within the format.

However that was not sufficient for the group. Solely a Bennett century would make the innings good, and it arrived in cinematic style within the one hundred and thirty fifth over. Zadran had arrange a short-ball ploy with two sweeper fielders within the deep on the leg facet, however Bennett went for the pull anyway. The fielder within the deep took the catch, solely to see that he had stepped into the boundary line, and Bennett roared “come on” within the route of his household on the grass banks, which included his father and twin brother. He would pin one other six subsequent ball over the identical area earlier than Ghazanfar picked up his third wicket by eradicating Gwandu, leaving Bennett unbeaten on 110.

Afghanistan’s reply to 587 started in overcast situations after tea, and Sediqullah Atal misplaced the battle of the debutants to Gwandu attempting to flick throughout the road within the second over. Gwandu obtained a ball to swing in and form away late to realize his maiden Take a look at scalp. The seamer would bowl 4 overs earlier than an damage whereas fielding ended his day early.

Muzarabani was metronic from the opposite finish, bowling within the channel round off stump, and challenged Abdul Malik’s bat from time to time. It wanted somebody of Rahmat Shah’s expertise at No. 3 to get the runs flowing. His robust off-side play earned him 4 fours within the house of as many overs bowled by Gwandu and Nyamhuri. Malik, as a substitute, provided smooth fingers when potential, along with his solely boundary a mild look in the direction of wonderful leg.

With the pitch nonetheless good for batting and the consequences of the brand new ball carrying off, each batters milked the Zimbabwe bowling, however seeking to make one thing occur Ervine introduced Muzarabani again and the thought labored. Malik, who had largely provided defensive photographs, was proffered a brief ball by Muzarabani and the rising supply compelled the error, straight to Ben Curran at wonderful leg.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, at No. 4, battled in opposition to the fading mild to face some difficult overs of spin from Williams and part-timers Mavuta and Bennett. He struck three boundaries in 24 balls, whereas Rahmat moved to 49 after surviving one catching likelihood at slip. Dangerous mild stopped play three overs earlier than shut, with Afghanistan on 95 for two, observing a mammoth 491-run deficit.