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Zimbabwe's Merciless Bowling Crushes Afghanistan Inside Two Days of the First Test in UAE

 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.

STATS ATTACK

  • 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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