Recent Match Report – First Test Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2020/21

Afghanistan struck twice on the second morning, but has now fallen more than 100 points behind

Lunch Zimbabwe 237 for 8 (Williams 97 *, Origin 44, Muzarabani 8 *) lead Afghanistan 131 (Zazai 37, Muzarabani 4-48) by 106 tracks

Zimbabwe took the lead after 100 points on a productive second morning in Abu Dhabi. The advantage was built by captain Sean Williams, who is a success far from his third century of testing – and second as a skipper. His 75-point stand at the seventh wicket with Regis Chakabva dominated the opening session of the day and could prove to be the difference between the two teams in the final analysis.

Afghanistan were successful at the start and end of the session, and their spinners asked the Zimbabwe drummers questions, but didn’t tie them up as much as they would have liked. Zimbabwe scored 104 points in the 28 overs session, with Chakabva leading their proactive approach.

He found himself at the crease in the second half of the day after Ibrahim Zadran had Ryan Burl lbw, without the batsman adding to his Night 8. Zadran ended with back-to-back limits as Chakabva shot a short bullet then inside – passed the doorman. Zadran did just one more and Chakabva took a third limit, before Afghanistan turned ends and again welcomed Yamin Ahmadzai, who left the field late on day one with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

At this point, Chakabva had also hit the only six innings so far, passing Amir Hamza over a long period, and had scored 24 points from the first 34 balls he had faced. Williams had been vigilant throughout, before he had the opportunity to lead Ahmadzai through additional cover to start showing his intention. After demonstrating his rear-foot play yesterday, Williams switched to kicking before the second morning, showing an ability to adapt and hold onto the runs ahead. Ahmadzai thought he had caught up with Williams on 70, and although there seemed to be a sound, referee Ahmed Shah Pakteen was unmoved.

The Williams-Chakabva partnership reached 50 when Chakabva punched Zahir Khan for two consecutive four fours. Both looked comfortable at the crease and rotated fairly well. But with less than 15 minutes left for lunch, Khan drew Chakabva forward in an attempt to defend a ball that took the inside edge off the mat and short-legged Abdul Malik.

With only the tail coming, and Williams 14 away from a hundred, he pulled Khan through the midwicket to enter the ’90s but, three bullets later, saw Donald Tiripano leave the same way as Chakabva. He also threw himself on a bullet he couldn’t reach and slashed into a short leg. Williams was on 92 when he was joined by Blessing Muzarabani, who took the lead on 100 with a lift on a square leg. Williams went to lunch on the 97th.