Welcome to Sportstar’s live updates from day four of the first Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at the Queens Sports Club Ground in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
ZIM vs AFG – Scorecard of the 1st test
Third day report
Rahmat Shah broke an Afghan Test record of 231 not out as he partnered Hashmatullah Shahidi in an unbeaten 361-run stand on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Saturday.
Captain Shahidi ended a punishing, wicketless day for Zimbabwe’s six-man attack on 141 for his second Test century.
Starting the day at 95 for two, the tourists were 425 for two by the end of the match at Queens Sports Club in the southern city of Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe, who scored a record 586 after winning the toss and bat, hold a 161-run lead heading into the fourth day of the match.
RELATED: Rahmat Shah Records Highest Individual Score by Afghan Batter in Test History
Rahmat bettered Afghanistan’s previous best individual score of 200 not out by Shahidi against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi three years ago.
He faced 416 balls after coming on when Afghanistan lost opener Sediqullah Atal in the second over, and hit three sixes and 23 fours in his record knock.
His previous highest score was 102 against Bangladesh in 2019 – the first Test century made by an Afghan.
Inexperienced player Brian Bennett was the bowler when Rahmat became a centurion, then a double centurion.
Rahmat, part of the Afghanistan team that made its Test debut in 2018 against India, hit a single to reach 100 and a four to reach 200.
Shahidi proved to be a superb partner. He faced 276 deliveries and hit 16 fours.
The skipper reached his century with a shot pulled over the fine leg of Newman Nyamhuri, one of two Test debutants in the Zimbabwe attack.
Zimbabwe, seeking their first Test victory since defeating Afghanistan three years ago, were guilty of wayward bowling and sloppy fielding.
Average pacer Trevor Gwandu was a wicket-taker, but also Zimbabwe’s costliest bowler, conceding 86 runs.
Afghanistan won the Twenty20 and One Day International series ahead of the Test – the former of the two, with the latter scheduled to begin on January 2.
Where to watch Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan first Test live stream?
LIVE broadcast of the first Test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan can be watched on the website Fan Code website and app. Plus you can stay tuned Sports stars website and app for latest updates.
SQUADS
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza , Sean Williams
Afghanistan : Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Bahir Shah, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Ikram Alikhil, Ismat Alam, Naveed Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Yamin Ahmadzai , Zahir Khan, Zahir Shehzad, Zia-ur-Rehman
