Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT is not every day that Zimbabwe’s Chevrons get to write a Cinderella Test cricket story.
But yesterday at their favourite hunting ground at Harare Sports Club they scripted one in style with a historic innings victory over Afghanistan, which was as rare as it looked easy.
The hosts annihilated Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs in a dominant, performance they will long celebrate at Harare Sports Club.
The comprehensive victory marks Zimbabwe’s first win by an innings in over 24 years, signalling a huge potential for resurgence for the Test side.
The match was a showcase of individual brilliance and collective team strength. Debutant opening batter Ben Curran anchored the innings with a magnificent maiden Test century, which laid the foundation for Zimbabwe’s commanding total and a formidable partnership with Skanda Raza.
His performance earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
While Curran built the fortress, seamer Richard Ngarava yesterday provided the fire-power to demolish the opposition on day three.
Ngarava unleashed a devastating spell, ripping through the Afghan batting line-up to claim his first-ever five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
His fire-power, combined with Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans and Tanaka Chivanga was all Zimbabwe needed to restrict Afghanistan.
The one-off Test was decided with ruthless efficiency.
After Zimbabwe posted a formidable 359 runs first-innings total, their bowling attack proved a tough ask for the Asians.
They dismantled Afghanistan twice in quick succession.
Afghanistan were restricted to 127 and 159 in the first and second innings.
Chevrons captain Craig Ervine applauded a collective effort as the linchpin to their victory.
“Winning the toss on the first day was crucial. Our plan was to utilise the early conditions, especially given we had selected four seamers,” said Ervine.
“The advantage of having four seamers is the flexibility it provides.
“It allows us to rotate the bowlers with short, sharp spells to keep them fresh all day.
“The first hour didn’t go to plan; we bowled in the wrong areas and conceded too many runs. However, we regrouped at the drinks break and from then until lunch, we hit much better areas and were rewarded for it.”
“We kept it simple, and the short-ball plan that worked against Afghanistan was effective again,” he said.
“With the bat, it was about discipline and composure. We anticipated they would throw everything at us, but we also felt they were a seamer short. Our plan was to get through the new ball spell and then grind them down.”
“Ben Curran did that job exceptionally well. He batted with great consistency, maintained his tempo, and allowed other batsmen to build around him. I’m really pleased he scored 121, those kinds of scores in a Test match have a big impact and put you on the front foot.”
“Along with Raza’s supporting role, we know he scores quickly, the partnership between those two gave us the real impetus in this Test,” added Ervine.
Afghanistan head coach, Jonathan Trott said their biggest undoing was in failing to capitalise on their first innings.
“We had a decent start at 77 for one, a strong position. But first-innings runs are vital, and unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalise.
“That’s what went wrong. After that, we were always playing catch-up against Zimbabwe.”
Prior to yesterday’s win Zimbabwe, who had only won one of their previous 17 tests.
Afghanistan were 34-1 overnight but only opener Ibrahim Zadran (42) and Bahir Shah (32) showed any resistance at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The pace proved the tourists’ undoing with Ngarava returning his best test figures of 5-37 in 13 overs while opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani contributed with 3-48.
It was only the third time Zimbabwe had won a test by an innings, adding to similar success over Pakistan in Harare in 1995 and Bangladesh in Bulawayo six years later.
