Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah delivered a stellar performance on Day 3 of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club Ground in Bulawayo. By lunch, Afghanistan had reached 191/2, with Shah leading the charge by scoring a well-crafted century.
Day 3 Morning Highlights
Resuming on his overnight score of 49, Rahmat Shah displayed incredible composure and technique. Partnering with Hashmatullah Shahidi, Shah navigated the Zimbabwean bowling attack with precision. His century, a vital knock under pressure, helped Afghanistan recover after trailing by a daunting 491 runs at the end of Day 2.
Shahidi also contributed steadily, rotating the strike effectively and supporting Shah in building a strong partnership.
Zimbabwe’s Commanding Position
Zimbabwe dominated the first two days of the Test, amassing a colossal total of 586 runs in their first innings. The hosts were powered by centuries from Captain Craig Ervine (104), Brian Bennett (110*), and Sean Williams (154). Their batting effort left Afghanistan facing an uphill battle to stay in the game.
Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to find breakthroughs, with AM Ghazanfar emerging as the most successful with figures of 3-127.
Day 2 Recap
Afghanistan began their reply on Day 2 but faced an early setback with the loss of two wickets. However, Shah steadied the ship and remained unbeaten at the close of play, showing determination to lead his team’s response.
What’s Next?
Afghanistan’s immediate focus will be on reducing the deficit and avoiding the follow-on. Rahmat Shah’s century has set the tone for the visitors, and they will look to build on this foundation. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will aim to dismantle Afghanistan’s batting lineup and maintain their stronghold on the match.
Stay tuned for more updates as the match progresses
