Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2nd Test: Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in the Test series, winning the second Test by 72 runs. The first Test ended in a draw. Rashid Khan bowled brilliantly for Afghanistan, taking a total of 11 wickets in the second Test. Rahmat Shah and Ismat Alam also showcased their strength, both scoring centuries in Afghanistan’s second innings of the Bulawayo Test.
Zimbabwe had a strong start in the second Test, dismissing Afghanistan for 157 runs in the first innings. Sikandar Raza and Neville Madziva took 3 wickets each for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s batsmen also impressed, scoring 243 runs in their first innings. Craig Ervine contributed with a solid 75 runs, while Sikandar Raza added 61 runs. Rashid Khan claimed 4 wickets in this innings for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Turned the Game Around in the Second Innings
Afghanistan made a remarkable comeback in the second innings, posting 363 runs before being all out. Rahmat Shah played a brilliant knock, scoring 139 runs, including 14 fours. Ismat Alam also contributed with 101 runs, hitting 9 fours. In response, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 205 runs in their second innings. Craig Ervine also played a crucial role, scoring 53 runs.
Rashid Khan Wreaked Havoc
Rashid Khan was the standout performer of the match, taking a total of 11 wickets. He was named Player of the Match for his exceptional performance. Rashid claimed 4 wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings and then followed it up with 7 wickets in the second innings. He bowled 27.3 overs, giving away only 66 runs, including 3 maiden overs. The 26-year-old, playing his first Test match in three years, confidently showed his skills despite not bowling with the red ball for a long time. Rashid finished with 11 wickets in the match, including a stunning 7 for 66 in the second innings.
๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง! ๐
AfghanAtalan, led by @rashidkhan_19‘s impressive bowling performance of 7/66, secured a remarkable 72-run victory in the second Test match and secured a 1-0 series victory over Zimbabwe. ๐
This marksโฆ pic.twitter.com/qx5eHG4ITG
โ Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 6, 2025
Rashidโs Confidence Despite Long Break from Test Cricket
“It was difficult for me to return after three years,” Rashid admitted. “But it’s a team effort. The way our batsmen performed in the second innings brought us back into the game.” Despite not bowling with the red ball for three years, Rashid maintained his confidence, focusing on the lengths he bowls to create problems for the opposition.
Rashid Khan’s wizardry lands Afghanistan a historic Test series win in Zimbabwe ๐ซ#ZIMvAFG ๐: https://t.co/hIWL34FBWE pic.twitter.com/c8fuBLSO14
โ ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2025
Afghanistan sealed the series 1-0 over Zimbabwe (AFG vs ZIM), with the first Test ending in a high-scoring draw. Rahmat Shah, who was named Player of the Series, played a crucial role, along with debutant Ismat Alam, who scored a century after being dismissed for a duck in the first innings.
Shahidi Praises Key Players
Captain Hasmatullah Shahidi hailed the contributions of Rahmat, Ismat, and Rashid in securing the win. He praised Rahmat for his consistency and recalled his excellent innings, adding that Ismatโs experience in first-class cricket had helped in his selection, bringing maturity to his game.