ZIM vs AFG 2024/25, Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st Check, Day 4, Bulawayo Match Report, December 26 - 30, 2024

Afghanistan 515 for 3 (Rahmat 234, Shahidi 179*, Muzarabani 1-52) path Zimbabwe 586 by 71 runs

Rain had the ultimate say on the fourth day in Bulawayo as solely 31 overs had been attainable with the primary of two Checks between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan headed to a draw. Zimbabwe managed to finish the mammoth 364-run third-wicket partnership between Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi – each of whom batted your entire third day – with the previous falling on 234. He added simply three runs to his in a single day rating earlier than left-arm fast Newman Nyamhuri, on debut, managed to have him caught at gully.

Shahidi was nonetheless batting on 179 whereas Afsar Zazai was in sights of his maiden Check half-century, ending unbeaten on 46 because the pair added an unbroken 87 for the fourth wicket.

Rahmat fell within the second over of the day, when he drove at one distant from his physique and edged it to Ben Curran after including simply three to his in a single day tally. Nyamhuri bowled it from across the stumps and floated it vast; Rahmat couldn’t resist. That ended what’s the eighth-highest third-wicket partnership in males’s Checks.

Each Nyamhuri and Blessing Muzarabani received seam motion – and at instances even additional bounce – however Shahidi and new batter Afsar Zazai remained watchful. Every time the road was vast, neither batter shied away from lofting or slashing on the ball. Shahidi reached 150 within the 131st over, when he clipped Nyamhuri vast of wonderful leg. Largely, each quicks saved it tight.

The primary boundary of the day got here solely within the 137th over. Trevor Gwandu angled one throughout to Shahidi, who performed a stunning drive to bisect cowl and mid-off. Thereafter, it was Zazai who saved discovering the boundary, whereas Shahidi regarded a lot calmer on the different finish.

Three overs later, Zazai hit his first boundary by means of midwicket when Sean Williams pitched one quick. Within the 141st over, Zazai threw his bat at a full and vast one exterior off from Gwandu, just for the ball to fly for 4 over gully. After two overs, Zazai reduce Gwandu for one more boundary simply after his partnership with Shahidi had crossed fifty.

Zazai picked up his solely six by pulling Williams over sq. leg. Sensing he was choosing up tempo, Zimbabwe slowed issues down by means of Muzarabani, Brandon Mavuta and Brian Bennett. Afghanistan managed solely 14 runs from the following seven overs, and that ended the morning session.

Shahidi drove the second supply after lunch for 4 to deep additional cowl, however solely two overs had been attainable within the afternoon. Seeing ominous gray clouds type, the umpires stopped play at 12:53pm sensing a heavy downpour, which arrived quickly.

The rain eased an hour later with the bottom employees beginning to peel the covers off. However that effort proved futile with one other downpour beginning. That spell of rain was relentless and stumps had been known as at 4:35pm.

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