dyton mupawaenda
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S wait for a Test victory in four years will continue following their 1-0 series loss to Afghanistan in an historic two-match series at Queens Sports Club.
The Chevrons lost the New Year’s Day Test match, which was the series decider, by 72 runs early on Monday, having drawn the run-fest first match where over 1000 runs were scored on a flat wicket.
Their last Test match win remains the victory over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in 2021.
Following the series loss, Zimbabwe now sit bottom of the ICC Test team rankings with Afghanistan jumping to position 11.
The Chevrons have zero points and a zero rating while Afghanistan now have 112 points and a rating of 19.
Despite having firm control of the match heading into Day Three, the Chevrons squandered a golden opportunity to win, with Rashid Khan spinning Afghanistan to victory with career-best figures of 7/66 in the game’s second innings.
Poor batting and over-reliance on senior players were, once again, the order of the day for the Chevrons, with youngsters failing to step up in the second match.
An injured Sean Williams, captain Craig Ervine, and Sikandar Raza were left to do all the work with the bat for the Chevrons, receiving minimal support from the other batters.
Zimbabwe, who won the toss and elected to field first, failed to capitalise on their early advantage after bowling Afghanistan out for 157 runs in just 44.3 overs.
They could only establish an 86-run lead going into the second innings, with Ervine and Raza scoring half-centuries, while Williams, nursing a back injury, chipped in with an invaluable 49 that helped take Zimbabwe to 243 all out in 73.3 overs.
On the morning of day three, the Chevrons had Afghanistan reeling at 69/5 before two centuries from Rahmat Shah and debutant Ismat Alam swung the game in the visitors’ favour.
Shah was earlier dropped on 47 and went on to finish his innings on 139 runs, complementing Alam’s maiden Test century to help their side reach 363 in 113.5 overs.
They set a target of 278 runs for the hosts, who crumbled to 205 all out in 68.3 overs.
“There were definitely times in the game we could have capitalised properly but we couldn’t. We could have pushed that first-innings lead further.
“There were certain areas where we could have done better. Going back to the first innings, getting them out for 150-odd, that was our opportunity to get above 300-350 and grow that lead.
“A lot of credit needs to go to Rahmat and Izmat, who brought the team back, and then Rashid with a seven-for, that was outstanding,” said captain Craig Ervine.
Blessing Muzarabani picked up his maiden Test five-for in the second innings.
In the match’s second innings, the lanky fast bowler finished with career-best figures of 6/95 in 29 overs, having taken three wickets in the first innings.
Online Reporter