Player of the Match
Player of the Match

5:59pm Zimbabwe were guilty of being wayward earlier in the innings but found their groove after the tea break. They picked up eight wickets and did not concede too many, which allowed them to turn the screw and put Afghanistan under pressure.

Speaking of Afghanistan, their shot-selection left a bit to be desired and none of their batters managed to go past 25, despite eight of them getting into double-digits. They find themselves behind at this stage, although they will be hopeful of nipping a few out before the close of play, especially on a surface that is still assisting the bowlers.

44.3
W
Nyamhuri to Fareed Ahmad, OUT, goes straight up, and Bennett takes it! Nyamhuri has his third, and Afghanistan have been bowled out for 157! Banged into the track on middle and off. Fareed tries to smash it into next week but makes a complete meal of it. No room to free the arms and he shanks it towards deep backward square leg. Bennett settles under it and does the rest. A stark contrast to Afghanistan's first innings in the first Test and Zimbabwe will be happy with their bowling effort!

Fareed Ahmad c Bennett b Nyamhuri 17 (22m 19b 1x4 1x6) SR: 89.47

44.2
0
Nyamhuri to Fareed Ahmad, no run, slower ball on a back of a length on off. Fareed picks it well in time and defends calmly

Partnership worth 27 already, and it has taken only 25 balls

44.1
4
Nyamhuri to Fareed Ahmad, FOUR, Fareed is having fun out there! Shortish on middle and leg. Fareed opens up his front hip and smears it between mid wicket and mid on!

Nyamhuri to try his luck to dislodge this last-wicket stand

END OF OVER:
44 | 3 Runs | AFG: 153/9

  • Fareed Ahmad13 (16b)
  • Zia-ur-Rehman8 (16b)
  • Sikandar Raza12-2-30-3
  • Blessing Muzarabani12-2-56-2
43.6
1
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, 1 run, back of a length on the stumps. Fareed gives himself a bit of room and punches it down the ground
43.5
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, zipped into the blockhole just outside leg. Fareed cannot jam down in time and gets pinged on the pads for the second ball running
43.4
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, a touch slower and fuller on leg stump. Fareed has an enormous swish across the line and misses. Gets rapped on the back leg. But it was heading well down
43.3
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, fired in on a length on leg stump. Fareed watches it all the way and pokes it into the on side
43.2
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, slower and shorter outside off. Fareed hangs back and taps it into the off side

Marumani on as a sub. Two substitute fielders on the park for Zimbabwe now, with Williams also not on the field

Zimbabwe will hope this is nothing serious. He might have landed hard on his knee, and the physio is out to check on him now. Ngarava is walking off the field now

43.1
2
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, 2 runs, dropped - oh dear! Length outside off. Fareed winds up and slams it flat towards Ngarava at mid on. He gets both hands to it to his right but cannot hold on. And he seems to have done himself a bit of mischief too. He has not gotten back up and seems to be clutching his right leg

END OF OVER:
43 | 9 Runs | AFG: 150/9

  • Zia-ur-Rehman8 (16b)
  • Fareed Ahmad10 (10b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani12-2-56-2
  • Sikandar Raza11-2-27-3
42.6
0
Muzarabani to Zia-ur-Rehman, no run, back of a length just outside off. Zia gives himself room and swishes at it wildly. Makes no contact whatsoever, which is not a huge surprise

150 up for Afghanistan

42.5
3
Muzarabani to Fareed Ahmad, 3 runs, dug in shorter this time, finishing on leg stump. Fareed backs away and hoicks it through mid wicket. Has enough time to get back for three
42.4
6
Muzarabani to Fareed Ahmad, SIX, Muzarabani goes full, and Fareed dumps him into the stands! This is in what you'd call the slot in white-ball cricket. Fareed opens up his stance and clatters it over long on. Clean swing!

Does Muzarabani go full now?

42.3
0
Muzarabani to Fareed Ahmad, no run, back of a length on middle and leg. Fareed, caught on the crease, stabs it back towards the bowler
42.2
0
Muzarabani to Fareed Ahmad, no run, dug into the track on off. Fareed jumps up onto his toes and fends it into the off side
42.1
0
Muzarabani to Fareed Ahmad, no run, shortish outside off. Fareed clears his front leg and swings for the hills. Only connects with fresh air

END OF OVER:
42 | 3 Runs | AFG: 141/9

  • Zia-ur-Rehman8 (15b)
  • Fareed Ahmad1 (5b)
  • Sikandar Raza11-2-27-3
  • Blessing Muzarabani11-2-47-2
41.6
0
Sikandar Raza to Zia-ur-Rehman, no run, and Raza bowls a full toss outside off. Patted into the off side towards extra cover

Deep mid wicket comes in for the final ball

41.5
2
Sikandar Raza to Zia-ur-Rehman, 2 runs, shortens the length after seeing Zia advance. He adjusts and works it through square leg for another brace
41.4
1
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, 1 run, back of a length just outside off. Fareed goes back and punches it towards mid on. Off the mark too
41.3
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, pushed in fuller on leg stump. Fareed has a tentative poke at it and chunks it off the inside edge towards square leg
41.2
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, back of a length on off. Fareed plays it back to the bowler off the back foot
41.1
0
Sikandar Raza to Fareed Ahmad, no run, back of a length on off. Fareed gets behind the line and blocks

Raza to bowl his eleventh over, hunting a four-for. Around the wicket

END OF OVER:
41 | 8 Runs | AFG: 138/9

  • Fareed Ahmad0 (1b)
  • Zia-ur-Rehman6 (13b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani11-2-47-2
  • Sikandar Raza10-2-24-3
40.6
1b
Muzarabani to Fareed Ahmad, 1 bye, short ball speared down leg. Fareed lets it go and the keeper's fumble allows Afghanistan to sneak in a bye

Zimbabwe 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st43J GumbieBJ Curran
2nd20T KaitanoBJ Curran
3rd26Sikandar RazaT Kaitano
4th10Sikandar RazaD Myers
5th58CR ErvineSikandar Raza
6th20CR ErvineSC Williams
7th0CR ErvineBJ Bennett
8th1CR ErvineNT Nyamhuri
9th27CR ErvineR Ngarava
10th0CR ErvineB Muzarabani