Afghanistan win 2nd Test despite Zimbabwe's stunning comeback: Records broken
Afghanistan have won the second Test against Zimbabwe by six wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. They chased down 108 runs on the final day, thereby completing a comeback in the series. Zimbabwe too avoided an innings defeat after receiving a follow-on. With this, the two-match Test series ended in a 1-1 draw after Zimbabwe won the series opener. Here are the records broken.
After opting to bat, Afghanistan put up 545/4d, with Hashmatullah Shahidi firing an incredible double-century (200*). Afghanistan then bowled out Zimbabwe for 287, thereby enforcing a follow-on. Although Zimbabwe were reduced 142/7 in the second innings, skipper Sean Williams (151*) and Donald Tiripano (95) gave them the lead. As Zimbabwe's innings ended on 365, Afghanistan completed the run-chase (108/4) with ease.
Captain Williams played a stellar knock to avoid an innings defeat for Zimbabwe in the Test. The 34-year-old led from the front as Zimbabwe took the lead eventually. He raced to his fourth century in Test cricket. Notably, Williams fired a ton in his third consecutive Test. His recent Test scores read as - 107, 53*, 105, 8 and 151*.
If Williams led from the front, tail-ender Tiripano showcased terrific resistance, and fought till the end. He managed to score 95 off 258 deliveries, a knock that was laced with 16 fours. Although Tiripano fell short of what could have been an incredible Test ton, he went on to register the highest score for a number nine Zimbabwe batsman.
Williams and Tiripano shared a 187-run stand to brush aside an innings defeat. This is now the longest partnership by a Zimbabwean pair (in terms of balls faced) for any wicket since Staurt Carlisle and Trevor Gripper (487 balls against Sri Lanka, 2002).
After taking four wickets in the first innings, leg-spinner Rashid Khan dominated the Zimbabwe batsmen in the latter half too (five-for). Playing only his fifth Test, he took his fourth five-wicket haul in the format. Rashid also completed his second ten-for, registering figures of 11/275 in the match. Interestingly, he bowled 99.2 overs in the match, most by a bowler in the 21st century.
In the first innings, Shahidi became the first player from Afghanistan to hit a double-century in Test cricket. His unbeaten 200 (443) was studded with 21 fours and 1 six. Also, skipper Asghar Afghan became the first Afghanistan batsman to cross the 150-run mark in the format (164). The duo added 307 runs between them, Afghanistan's first 300-run partnership (Test cricket).
