Afghanistan dominate day three

AFGHANISTAN’S captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah stole the show with a stellar batting display on day three of the historic Boxing Day Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club.

Resuming the day on 95/2, the pair put together a batting masterclass, forming a 361-run third-wicket partnership as Afghanistan dominated the day.

They batted out the whole day.
This became Afghanistan’s highest-ever partnership in Test cricket, surpassing their previous best of 307 runs (fourth wicket) between Shahidi and Asghar Afghan, also against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

Afghanistan has now achieved 300-plus run partnerships twice in Test cricket, both against Zimbabwe.
With the match heading towards a likely draw, Afghanistan were the happier side at stumps on day three.
Shah, who entered the match with a career-best score of 101, played a brilliant innings, reaching a double century.

Shahidi, the captain, was closing in on 150, making Zimbabwe toil for a breakthrough.
At the close of play, Afghanistan were on 425/2, trailing Zimbabwe by 161 runs.

**Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (left) and Rahmat Shah celebrate a wicket against Chevrons at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo**

This became Afghanistan’s second-highest total in Test cricket, the best being 545/4 (declared), which also came against Zimbabwe in 2021.

Afghanistan has only surpassed 400 runs in Tests twice, both times against the Chevrons.
The chief architect of Afghanistan’s innings, Shah, etched his name in the country’s cricketing history.

His unbeaten 231 runs now holds the record for the highest individual score by an Afghan in Test crick-et.
Shahidi previously held the record with his 200 not out against Zimbabwe in 2021.

Shah becomes only the second Afghan cricketer to score a Test double century, following Shahidi.
Shahidi ended the day on 141 runs from 276 deliveries.

However, Zimbabwe had themselves to blame for the lack of breakthroughs, having dropped more than five catches during the day’s play.

Chevrons skipper, Craig Ervine lamented their missed chances while praising his bowlers for keeping Afghanistan’s run rate at around 3.4.

“Those half chances and dropped catches, I think that’s where we did go wrong. Credit to the bowlers, they stuck to their guns. It was a tough day for us, especially knowing that we are playing on a good batting wicket. Those chances then become important, unfortunately, we didn’t hold on to those chances and that is why we are in the position that we are in right now.

“Tomorrow (today) we have to stay as disciplined as we can, the guys did that really well today. We are trying to be a bit patient and at the same time control the game and I think the bowlers did well to keep them at a decent run rate, especially on a good batting surface. Unfortunately, we couldn’t back them up by taking those chances,” said Ervine.

Ervine added that despite the game looking set for a draw, they will remain focused on trying to win the game.
Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu were the most expensive bowlers, both conceding 86 runs in 22 and 19 overs, respectively.

Sean Williams gave away 74 runs in 27 overs, while Newman Nyamhuri leaked 61 runs in 18 overs. Brian Bennett conceded 54 runs in 18 overs and Blessing Muzarabani, in 21 overs, went for 46 runs, claiming one wicket on day two.
Play resumes at 10am today for the fourth day. – @brandon_malvin.