Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Live Cricket Score, 1st Test Day 1 (Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard): Zimbabwe’s veteran Sean Williams scored an unbeaten 145 to help his side to 363 for four wickets before bad light ended play early on the opening day of the first test against Afghanistan at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday.
The 38-year-old Williams, who now has five test centuries, and skipper Craig Ervine, who is 56 not out, will resume on Friday looking to help the hosts to an imposing first innings score in a rare test outing for either country.
Playing XIs
Zimbabwe: Joylord Gumbie (WK), Ben Curran, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (C), Dion Myers, Brandon Mavuta, Brian Bennett, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu
Afghanistan: Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), AM Ghazanfar, Afsar Zazai (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahidullah Kamal, Naveed Zadran, Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan
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Afghanistan might be relieved by rattling the hosts but there’s still a lot of work left for them. They stuck with spinners for most part of the innings. AM Ghazanfar on his debut took three wickets while Zadran, Khan and Zia-ur-Rehman ended with two each. Zimbabwe bowlers will be fresh and raring to go. They’ll hope for a couple of quick wickets before the end of the day’s play. Afghanistan on the other hand need a good start. Stay tuned.
Finally, the innings comes to an end but a show Zimbabwe have put on! They have dominated the game so far and have the upper hand. It was all about three centurions for Zimbabwe. Their experienced players, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett stepped up to the occasion. The trio played brilliantly in different phases to score such a massive score. Earlier, the debutant, Curran notched a fifty and there were a couple of handy innings from Myers and Newman Nyamhuri as well.
Finally, the innings comes to an end but a show Zimbabwe have put on! They have dominated the game so far and have the upper hand. It was all about three centurions for Zimbabwe. Their experienced players, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett stepped up to the occasion.
135.2 – OUT! Just the one ball needed to get him. The googly. It lands on off and spins away. Gwandu looks to drive but does so inside the line. It takes the outside edge and the keeper does the rest.
Batsman_1 : Trevor Gwandu 3(9)
Batsman_2 : Brian Bennett 110(124)
Bowler : AM Ghazanfar 3/127(30.2)
Over : 135.2
Run : 1
Wicket : 1
Score : 586/10
135.1 – Shorter and down the leg side. Bennett pulls it to short fine leg and takes one. Five bowls now to bowl to Gwandu.
134.3 – TAKEN BUT THE FIELDER STEPS OVER THE LINE! SIX! What a way to get to your ton. He must have had his heart in his mouth there. Short and on middle. He plays the pull. This goes more off the splice towards deep mid-wicket. The fielder there takes it but doesn’t realise he’s too close to the ropes and steps out it. Bennett lets out a lot roar. A fine knock from him. Top stuff. We expect him to play some more shots now.
134.6 – Two! On middle. This is worked through square leg for two.
Batsman_1 : Trevor Gwandu 3(8)
Batsman_2 : Brian Bennett 109(123)
Bowler : Naveed Zadran 2/109(23)
Over : 135
Run : 19
Wicket : 0
Score : 585/9
134.5 – On middle. Slower. This is worked through mid-wicket for one.
134.4 – SIX! He’s absolutely nailed that one! On middle. Shorter. Bennett looks to pull. This goes well over the square leg fence.
134.2 – FOUR LEG BYES! A huge roar from the crowd but it is off the pad! On the pads. Bennett looks to flick but this goes off the pad and down to the fine leg fence.
134.1 – Outside off. Shorter. Bennett looks to cut but misses.
133.6 – On middle. Fuller. This is worked through mid-wicket. No run taken.
Batsman_1 : Trevor Gwandu 1(7)
Batsman_2 : Brian Bennett 96(118)
Bowler : Azmatullah Omarzai 1/66(19)
Over : 134
Run : 5
Wicket : 0
Score : 566/9
133.5 – Outside off. Gwandu leaves it alone.
133.4 – Around off. Shortish. This is guided past point for one.
133.3 – Another couple. On the shorter side. Bennett guides it past. Takes two more.
133.2 – Two! Around off. This is guided past point for two more.
133.1 – On the stumps. This is worked to mid-wicket.
132.6 – Anglrd into the pads. Gwandu looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads.
Batsman_1 : Trevor Gwandu 1(5)
Batsman_2 : Brian Bennett 91(114)
Bowler : Zia-ur-Rehman 2/101(26)
Over : 133
Run : 11
Wicket : 0
Score : 561/9
132.5 – Around off. This is punched past cover for one.
132.4 – Two more! Bennett flays it past point for two more.
132.3 – Floats it up on off. This is hit past cover. Does not take the run as there’s no two.
132.2 – SIX! Over the fence! Angled into the pads. Bennett slog sweeps and it goes over the square leg fence for a biggie.
132.1 – Two! Shorter and outside off. Bennett slaps it past cover and takes two.
131.4 – Outside off, Bennett punches it to cover for a single. 550 up!
131.3 – Outside off, Gwandu cuts it to third man for a single.
131.5 – A good length ball on off, Gwandu blocks it well.
131.6 – A yorker shaping on middle and leg, Gwandu does well to defend it. Top nut!
Batsman_1 : Trevor Gwandu 1(4)
Batsman_2 : Brian Bennett 80(109)
Bowler : Azmatullah Omarzai 1/61(18)
Over : 132
Run : 2
Wicket : 1
Score : 550/9
131.2 – Lovely delivery! A yorker, shaping on off, Gwandu looks to dig it out but misses.
131.1 – OUT! BOWLED! Azmatullah Omarzai gets his first wicket. A length ball, around off, Muzarabani makes room to cut but misses and it crashes the stumps.
Trevor Gwandu is the last man in.
130.2 – On off, Muzarabani drives it to mid off for a single.
130.6 – Short and outside off, spins away. Bennett looks to cut but misses.
130.5 – Angling on middle, Muzarabani plays it to long on for one.
130.4 – Outside off, this is punched to cover for a single.