Zimbabwe achieved a historic Test total of 586 against Afghanistan, with Sean Williams scoring a record 154 as they dominated the match. Afghanistan struggled in response, trailing by 491 runs at the end of the second day.
On Friday, during the first Test match against Afghanistan in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and their experienced batsman Sean Williams achieved notable milestones in Test cricket. Starting their innings at 363 for four, Zimbabwe finished at 586 all out, marking their highest team total in Tests, surpassing the previous record of 563 against the West Indies established two decades prior. At the close of the second day’s play, Afghanistan stood at 95 for two in response, trailing by 491 runs.
Sean Williams, who initially scored 145, resumed and added nine runs before being dismissed for 154, which set a new personal best, exceeding his previous score of 151 not out against the same opponents in Abu Dhabi three years ago. He displayed impressive batting skills, hitting three sixes and ten fours in a 266-minute innings. His significant partnership of 163 runs for the fifth wicket with captain Craig Ervine, who scored 104, further strengthened Zimbabwe’s position.
Zimbabwe included three debutants in this match, with Ben Curran opening the batting and contributing 68 runs. Another highlighted performance came from Brian Bennett, who scored an unbeaten 110, showcasing a brisk batting approach. On the bowling front, Afghanistan’s Allah Ghazanfar claimed three wickets but was costly, conceding 127 runs in the process. The Afghan innings faced challenges, with early wickets falling; newcomer Sediqullah Atal was dismissed for just three runs.
This report outlines the performance of the Zimbabwean cricket team during their Test match against Afghanistan in Bulawayo. It highlights a significant milestone reached by the Zimbabwean team and Sean Williams as an individual player. The context of the match is crucial, given the ongoing competition between the two teams, both of whom seek to secure a Test victory for the first time in three years. The statistics mentioned reflect both the historic nature of the records set and the challenges faced by Afghanistan.
In summary, the first Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan has revealed impressive individual and team performances from the Zimbabwean side, particularly by Sean Williams and Brian Bennett. Zimbabwe’s record-breaking total and significant partnerships in their innings underscore their competitive edge in the match. Afghanistan, however, will need to regroup and improve their batting as they aim to overcome a substantial deficit.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
