By Ashley Dube
Zimbabwe
took a one nil lead over Afghanistan in the ongoing two match series following
a 10 wicket win in Abu Dhabi UAE. The match finished in two days as the
Chevrons produced an amazing bowling display. Afghanistan won the toss and
elected to bat first on day 1. A decision which immediately backfired as
debutant Abdul Malik was clean bowled by Blessing Muzarabani with the first
ball of the innings.
The
Chevrons’ seamers ripped through the top order leaving Afghanistan reeling at
69-5 with Nyauchi chipping in with 3 wickets in that spell, capitalising on the
bountiful movement and good bounce offered by the pitch.
In
the second session Zimbabwe took the remaining wickets bowling their opponents
out for 133 with Blessing Muzarabani the pick of the bowlers with figures of
4-48. This brought in Zimbabwe into bat who also had a disastrous start at
38-4. Kevin Kasuza and debutant Wesley Madhevere both went out without
troubling the scorers, with opener Prince Masvaure wobbling to his 15.
Experienced
pair Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams steadied the ship with a 70-run
partnership before Raza threw away his wicket with a careless lofted shot and
was caught in the deep by Abdul Malik. Ryan Burl and Sean Williams negotiated
the last minutes of day 1, with the Chevrons finishing day 1 on 137-5, having a
slender 4 run lead. Ryan Burl was trapped leg before wicket by part-timer
Ibrahim Zadran and there were concerns of a mini collapse in the morning
session on Day 2.
However,
wicketkeeper-batsman together with Sean Williams played a counter attacking
partnership producing another half century stand as well before Regis Chakabva
fell for 44. Williams went on to get his 3rd Test hundred before
being caught out on 105 off Amir Hamza’s bowling who also took the wicket of
Nyauchi as he finished with impressive figures of 6-75. Zimbabwe were bowled
out for 250 runs with a 119 run lead over Afghanistan.
Zimbabwe
were set for an innings victory as Victor Nyauchi was on a roll with the new
ball getting 3 early wickets. Blessing Muzarabani and Sean Williams also
chipped in with a wicket apiece leaving Afghanistan in all sorts of trouble at
22-5.
The
skipper Asghar Aghan and opener Ibrahim Zadran tried to wrestle back control
from the Zimbabwe bowlers but Muzarabani came back for his second spell and
took the big wicket of Aghan (14). New batsman Abul Wasi was dropped at second
slip by Ryan Burl off the bowling of Tiripano. But Burl soon made amends as he
bowled Wasi for 9.
Ibrahim
and Hamza showed good temperament as well as good stroke play for their half
century stand with opener Ibrahim crossing 50 in the process. He was caught
behind off the bowling of Tiripano with his vigil ending on 76.
Tiripano
quickly wrapped up the innings with two more wickets as Afghanistan were bowled
for 135 setting the Chevrons a small target of 17 to win. Openers Kevin Kasuza
and Prince Masvaure made light work of the target as the Chevron romped to a 10
wicket victory. Skipper Sean Williams was named man of the match.
- This is Zimbabwe's 13th victory in Test cricket.
- It is the first time Zimbabwe have won by 10 wickets in all international cricket.
- This was Sean Williams' first win as Test captain.
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