Leg-spinner Rashid Khan took six wickets to put Afghanistan on the verge of victory in the series-deciding second test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday.
Zimbabwe were 205-8 in their second innings at stumps on day four -- 72 runs off their target heading into the final day of a seesaw contest at Queens Sports Club.
Stumps have been called on day four, with AfghanAtalan being in search of the final two wickets while Zimbabwe (205/8) requires 73 more runs to win on the last day. π#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/gkYkLc8kMR
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 5, 2025
Rashid, who took 4-94 in the first innings, finished the day with 6-66 in the second.
A star of T20 cricket but playing in only his sixth test, it was Rashid's fifth five-wicket haul, the third time he has taken 10 wickets in a match.
Ismat Alam, playing in his first test, struck 101 to propel the tourists to 363 all out in their second innings and a lead of 276.
Sikandar Raza and captain Craig Ervine put on 58 for the fifth wicket to leave Zimbabwe on 157-5 when Rashid dealt a massive blow to the home team.
Raza tried to loft a short delivery from the 26-year-old spinner and Shahidullah Kamal took a simple catch at silly mid-off. The all-rounder departed for 38 from 83 balls.
Rashid had already removed Dion Myers (6) and followed Raza's dsmissal by bowling Sean Williams (16) and Brian Bennett (0) in the space of three balls.
πππ πππππππ ππ¨π« ππππ! ποΈ@rashidkhan_19 has been spot-on with his bowling efforts this afternoon in Bulawayo as he completes a SIX-WICKET HAUL in the fourth inning of the ongoing test match against Zimbabwe. π
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 5, 2025
A magnificent bowling performance to get into his⦠pic.twitter.com/Y3FaQHJvLF
Williams, who has been battling a back injury, departed after mistiming an attempted sweep and Bennett failed to cope with a ball which pitched on middle and straightened enough to fly past the edge and rattle the stumps.
Zimbabwe's hopes on Monday will rest on 39-year-old Ervine who was unbeaten on 53 at stumps, having struck a six and four fours off 97 deliveries.
Earlier, Alam atoned for a first-innings duck with a century before pulling a shot to mid-wicket where Takudzwanashe Kaitano took the catch. His 181-ball innings included nine fours.
πππ― pic.twitter.com/z00lPNAbIK
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 5, 2025
Alam was among the victims of Blessing Muzarabani (6-95) and fellow Zimbabwe quick Richard Ngarava (3-76) also enjoyed success.
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are both chasing a first test victory since beating each other in Abu Dhabi four years ago.
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
