Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (AFP) : On day two of the second and final Test match against Afghanistan in Bulawayo on Friday, Zimbabwe amassed 243 in their first innings, with captain Craig Ervine leading the way with 75.
At Queens Sports Club in the southern metropolis, the visitors were 40 runs down at 46-3 when play was cut short due to bad light just before the scheduled close.
Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams, two more veterans, provided Ervine with strong assistance as the home club rallied from 41-4 to take an 86-run lead in the first inning.
Zimbabwe is attempting to win its first Test match since defeating Afghanistan three years ago, and the 39-year-old captain recorded partnerships of 71 for the fifth wicket with Raza and 73 for the eighth wicket with Williams.
Ervine was awarded not out but walked a run short of a half-century after hitting two sixes and four fours, Raza six fours, and Williams eight fours.
Due to a back issue, Williams batted lower in the order than normal at No. 9. He thought he nicked a delivery from fast Rashid Khan and left without hesitation.
Raza missed his paddle-sweep attempt off Zia-ur-Rehman, and the ball struck the stumps. Riaz Hassan stopped Ervine’s sweep at deep backward square leg, causing him to fall last.
The most successful Afghan bowler with 4-94 was leg spinner Rashid Khan, who took out Ervine and Williams.
Afghanistan suffered early second-inning damage from opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who sent openers Abdul Malik and Hassan to the pavilion with only 18 runs remaining.
Then, in a devastating blow to the visitors, an unplayable Raza ball that pitched on middle before hitting off bowled skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi.
On the second day, it was revealed that Ireland will tour Zimbabwe in all forms from February 6–25. There will be six white-ball matches in Harare after a Test in Bulawayo.
Short scores:
Zimbabwe scored 243 in 73.3 overs against Afghanistan’s 157 in 44.3 overs and 46-3 in 15 overs. Play was interrupted by a bad light.
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