Shah’s record Test knock inspires Afghanistan comeback
BULAWAYO: Rahmat Shah registered a record score for an Afghanistan cricketer with an unbeaten double century on Saturday to see his team to 425 runs for two wickets at stumps on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club.
Afghanistan, who were 95-2 overnight, took full advantage of a raft of dropped catches and saw Shah and his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi bat through the entire day, keeping their respective wickets intact through an astonishing 95 overs.
Rahmat was 49 not out overnight and broke Shahidi’s record of 200 not out, set against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in 2021, as he finished the day unbeaten on 231.
Inexperienced spinner Brian Bennett was the bowler when Shah became a centurion, then a double centurion. He has faced 416 balls after coming in when Afghanistan lost opener Sediqullah Atal in the second over, and struck three sixes and 23 fours.
Shahidi played a supporting role as he scored a second Test century, and will resume on Sunday 141 not out. He has faced 276 deliveries and hit 16 fours.
The skipper reached his century with a pull shot to fine leg off Newman Nyamhuri, one of two Test debutants in the Zimbabwe attack.
Zimbabwe, seeking a first Test win since beating Afghanistan three years ago, were guilty of some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding as Afghanistan cut their 395-run deficit to 161 runs.
Zimbabwe had three players who made centuries in their 586 all out in their first innings.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE (1st Innings) 586 AFGHANISTAN (1st Innings, overnight 95-2):
S. Atal b Gwandu 3
A. Malik c Curran b Muzarabani 23
R. Shah not out 231
H. Shahidi not out 141
EXTRAS (B-6, LB-12, NB-3, W-6) 27
TOTAL (for two wkts, 125 overs) 425
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3 (Atal), 2-64 (Malik)
STILL TO BAT: A. Omarzai, A. Zazai, Shahidullah, A.M. Ghazanfar, Zia-ur-Rehman, N. Zadran, Z. Khan
BOWLING: Muzarabani 21-5-46-1 (2w); Gwandu 19-1-86-1 (1w, 2nb); Nyamhuri 18-2-61-0 (2w, 1nb); Williams 27-1-74-0; Mavuta 22-0-86-0 (1w); Bennett 18-1-54-0
Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2024