Zimbabwe strengthened their grip on the second and final Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Saturday, reaching 339 in their first innings before their bowlers reduced the hosts to 159 for 6 at stumps on Day 2, still 180 runs behind.
Brendan Taylor, resuming on 96 overnight with Zimbabwe placed at 250 for 5, wasted little time in completing his century, reaching the landmark off 171 deliveries. It was the veteran’s eighth Test hundred, and his second against Afghanistan in the longest format. He fell for 119 soon after, and Tafadzwa Tsiga followed four balls later as Afghanistan’s debutant spinner Naseer Khan Maroofkhil continued his dream start to Test cricket.
Maroofkhil, who had taken four wickets on Day 1, added three more to finish with outstanding figures of 7 for 151 from 44 overs, including 12 maidens. His haul is the second-best by an Afghanistan bowler on Test debut. He accounted for Taylor early in the morning with a full delivery that beat the attempted reverse sweep, then dismissed Graeme Cremer leg-before and bowled Vincent Masekesa off consecutive deliveries in the 110th over. Brad Evans’ unbeaten 32 off 50 balls pushed Zimbabwe past 300, and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 339 in 114.5 overs, adding 89 runs to their overnight total. Innocent Kaia’s 96 and Ben Curran’s 44 had set up the innings on the opening day.
Afghanistan’s reply never found any momentum. The hosts lost two wickets inside the opening 10 overs to slip to 27 for 2, and went into tea at 54 for 2 with Rahmanullah Zadran and Hashmatullah Shahidi at the crease. Zadran top-scored with 34 off 44 balls before edging Masekesa to Taylor at slip, while Shahidi and captain Rahmat Shah both made 30 and fell in their thirties.
At 115 for 4, Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil tried to stop the slide, but their stand did not last long enough to shift the momentum. Afghanistan lost their fifth wicket at 136 and another at 154, closing the day on 159 for 6 after 48 overs. Zazai was unbeaten on 33 off 65 balls at stumps, batting alongside Maroofkhil, who had three off 10 balls. Blessing Muzarabani led Zimbabwe’s bowling with three for 31, while Masekesa picked up two for 47 and Brad Evans claimed the other wicket.
With only four wickets in hand and 180 runs still to wipe out, Afghanistan face a long Day 3 if they are to stay in the contest. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will look to wrap up the innings quickly and build on a lead that already puts them firmly in charge.
