Afghanistan bounce back with series-levelling win against Zimbabwe

ABU DHABI   –  Despite a stiff resistance from Sean Williams and Donald Tiripano, Afghanistan put up an impressive performance to win the second Test by six wickets and level the two-match series 1-1.

Asghar Afghan and Hashmatullah Shahidi put Afghanistan in a strong position with their magnificent batting performances, while Rashid Khan added to Zimbabwe’s misery with 11 wickets in the match. Although Afghanistan expected to wrap up the match on day four, a fighting partnership between Williams and Tiripano delayed their victory by a day. Zimbabwe resumed play with Williams on 106 not out and Tiripano unbeaten on 63 with a lead of eight runs and three wickets in hand.

Williams and Tiripano continued from where they had left off yesterday and added another 63 runs to push Zimbabwe’s total past 329. However, Rashid Khan finally managed to get a much-needed breakthrough for Afghanistan when he sent Tiripano packing just five short of what would have been his maiden Test century. Captain Williams continued his efforts to increase Zimbabwe’s lead with Blessing Muzarabani and the pair stitched a 33-run partnership until latter fell victim to Amir Hamza.

Rashid then bagged his 11th wicket of the match and seventh of the innings by dismissing Victor Nyauchi, thus restricting Zimbabwe’s lead to 107 runs. Afghanistan started their innings on the back-foot as Muzarabani drew first blood with a wicket in the first over of the innings. But, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah quickly brought Afghanistan back on track with a well-worked partnership of 88 runs.

Zimbabwe picked up two wickets in quick succession but Afghanistan soon eased to comfortable victory with Rahmat Shah bringing up his half-century. Hashmatullah Shahidi, who was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his double ton, said: “It was tough after first Test. We were disappointed there. But thanks from the coaching staff, HD Ackerman, and Nawroz and captain for believing me. We had hard work before coming here. I want to congratulate my whole nation on this win. I just wanted to stay long after a disappointing first Test. I wanted to take responsibility as a senior player. Feeling very good about the first 200, it’s a big achievement for me. I hope it’s not the first and last one for me.”

Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan said: “Winning the match was very important for us. We learnt a lot from the first game. Our guys showed that too, especially in the batting side. Hashmat was impressive. I play my own game, sometimes attacking. The first game we were disappointing, but we are new in Test cricket. These two matches, we learnt a lot. Rashid wasn’t totally fit, he was injured. But every time he does something good for his country. With a broken finger. I will give a lot of credit to Rashid.”

Scorecard

AFGHANISTAN 1ST INNINGS: 545/4d

ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS: 287

ZIMBABWE 2ND INNINGS (FOLLOWING ON)

Prince Masvaure c & b Javed 15

Kevin Kasuza c Rahmat b Rashid 30

Tarisai Musakanda lbw b Rashid 15

Sean Williams not out 151

W Madhevere c Afsar Sayed Shirzad 0

Sikandar Raza c Nasir b Rashid 22

Ryan Burl lbw b Rashid Khan 0

Regis Chakabva lbw b Rashid 0

Donald Tiripano lbw b Rashid 95

B Muzarabani c Afsar b Amir Hamza 17

Victor Nyauchi lbw b Rashid Khan 0

EXTRAS: (b12, lb7, w1) 20

TOTAL: (all out, 148.5 overs) 365

FOW: 1-44, 2-46, 3-101, 4-102, 5-140, 6-140, 7-142, 8-329, 9-362, 10-365. 

BOWLING: Sayed Shirzad 27-7-49-1, Rashid Khan 62.5-17-137-7, Amir Hamza 34-7-104-1, Javed Ahmadi 16-5-40-1, Shahidullah 5-1-6-0, Asghar Afghan 1-0-1-0, Rahmat Shah 3-0-9-0. 

AFGHANISTAN 2ND INNINGS:

(TARGET: 108 RUNS)

Javed Ahmadi b Muzarabani 4

Ibrahim Zadran c Musakanda b Burl 29

Rahmat Shah b Burl 58

Shahidullah c Kasuza b Muzarabani 0

Nasir Jamal not out 4

Hashmatullah Shahidi not out 6

EXTRAS: (b4, nb2, w1) 7

TOTAL: (4 wkts, 26.1 overs) 108

FOW: 1-8, 2-89, 3-91, 4-101. 

BOWLING: Blessing Muzarabani 9.1-1-25-2, Victor Nyauchi 6-1-28-0, Sean Williams 3-0-18-0, Donald Tiripano 4-0-17-0, Ryan Burl 4-1-16-2.

TOSS: Afghanistan

UMPIRES: Ahmed Pakteen, Aleem Dar

TV UMPIRE: Ahmed Shah Durrani

MATCH REFEREE:  Ranjan Madugalle