Rahmat Shah struck 139 in Bulawayo on Saturday to revive Afghanistan hopes of winning a series-deciding second test against Zimbabwe before rain stopped play late on day three.
The experienced 31-year-old put on 132 for the seventh wicket with debutant Ismat Alam (64 not out) to turn a worrying overnight situation into a potential path to victory.
Rain has enforced early stumps on day 3 in Bulawayo as AfghanAtalan reached 291/7, leading by 205 runs.
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 4, 2025
Tomorrow morning, play will begin 30 minutes earlier at 12:00 PM (AFT). π#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/aeNwpZWVtt
Afghanistan were 46-3 after day two at Queens Sports Club, 40 runs behind having lost star batter and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (13).
Much hinged on Shah, a double centurion in the drawn first test, and he proved equal to the task as Afghanistan reached 291-7 by the close of play for a 205-run lead.
πππππππ ππ¨π« ππ‘ππ‘ π! π―@RahmatShah_08 puts on yet another incredible batting display to get into his 3rd Hundred in Test cricket and his 2nd in this series. π
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 4, 2025
Top-class knock, Shah G! π€©#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/ACEuD9m5nv
Shah faced 275 balls over two days, having come in at No 3 with the tourists reeling at 18-2 in the southern city.
He performed patiently throughout, offering few chances to an increasingly frustrated Zimbabwe attack, and struck 14 fours in a 401-minute stand.
His innings ended shortly before the rain. A pacey, good length ball from the most successful Zimbabwe bowler, quick Blessing Muzarabani, beat Shah and he was trapped leg before.
Unbeaten Alam followed the cautious approach of Shah, hitting four fours off 122 balls as he atoned for a first-innings duck.
The debutant Ismat Alam steps up and puts on a solid batting effort to get to his maiden half-century in Test cricket. π
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 4, 2025
Excellent knock from the youngster! π#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/0NeTFTX7ty
Zia-ur-Rehman (6), Afsar Zazai (5) and Shahidullah Kamal (22) were the other Afghan batters to fall on day three, as both teams seek a first test win since beating each other in 2021.
Brian Bennett caught Rehman at short fine leg, a brilliant catch by Dion Myers at backward point dismissed Zazai and a Shahidullah prod was snapped up by Takudzwanashe Kaitano at silly point.
Muzarabani (4-71) and fellow quick Richard Ngarava (2-47) fared best for Zimbabwe on a surface that has become batter friendly after initially favouring the bowlers.
ZIMBABWE: Joylord Gumbie (wk), Ben Curran, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Sean Williams, Dion Myers, Craig Ervine (capt), Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
AFGHANISTAN: Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Afsar Zazai (wk), Rashid Khan, Shahidullah Kamal, Zia-ur-Rehman, Fareed Ahmad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Riaz Hassan, Ismat Alam
