The first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in Sharjah is drifting towards a draw after another day dominated by the bat, with Zimbabwe closing Day 4 on 164 for 3 in their second innings and an overall lead of 154 runs.
Resuming on 402 for 7 and still 102 runs behind, Afghanistan’s hopes rested on captain Rahmat Shah, and he delivered a marathon. Rahmat added 92 runs for the eighth wicket with Zia-ur-Rehman, a new Afghanistan record for the eighth wicket in Tests, and inched towards a second double hundred before falling for 173 off 347 balls, stumped off Graeme Cremer. Zia’s contribution was just 15 runs, but it took him 99 balls and nearly three hours of stubborn resistance, and it wore the Zimbabwe attack down.
Once the stand was broken, the innings folded quickly. Blessing Muzarabani removed Zia, and Newman Nyamhuri completed a maiden five-wicket haul, finishing with 5 for 82 as he dismissed Mohammad Saleem to end Afghanistan’s innings on 514. Along with centuries from Sediqullah Atal and debutant Rahmanullah earlier in the innings, Rahmat’s knock gave the hosts a narrow 10-run first-innings lead.
Zimbabwe’s second innings began badly. Zia-ur-Rehman, suddenly the bowler after his long vigil with the bat, removed Innocent Kaia and Ben Curran to leave the visitors reeling at 38 for 2. But Brendan Taylor, who had scored 131 in the first innings, counter-attacked in his own way. His 82, his 13th Test half-century, wrested the momentum back before a mix-up with Brian Bennett ended in a run out at 120 for 3.
Bennett, the Zimbabwe captain, then took charge. Unbeaten on 49 off 77 balls at stumps, he found an able partner in Craig Ervine, unbeaten on 20, and the pair added an unbroken 44 runs before fading light brought an early end to play. Zimbabwe’s lead of 154, with seven wickets in hand, puts them in the stronger position, but the Sharjah surface has refused to offer the bowlers anything all match.
With only one day left, all three results remain possible, though a draw is the likeliest outcome. Zimbabwe will look to bat for at least another session and a half on the final day before entertaining thoughts of a declaration, while Afghanistan need early wickets in the morning to keep any hope of a result alive. Unless something dramatic happens on Day 5, this will go down as a run-feast that neither side could quite turn into a win.
Related: Rahmat Shah’s 173 Powers Afghanistan Past 500 and Into a 10-Run Lead Over Zimbabwe in Sharjah — https://t20star.com/rahmat-shahs-173-powers-afghanistan-past-500-and-into-a-10-run-lead-over-zimbabwe-in-sharjah/ | Twin Centuries From Atal and Debutant Rahmanullah Drag Afghanistan to 402 for 7 in Sharjah — https://t20star.com/twin-centuries-from-atal-and-debutant-rahmanullah-drag-afghanistan-to-402-for-7-in-sharjah/
