Veteran Zimbabwean batter Sean Williams put on a stunning display, scoring an unbeaten 145 to lead his team to a formidable total of 363/4 against Afghanistan on the opening day of the first Test in Bulawayo. Williams, just seven runs shy of surpassing his Test career best of 151, demonstrated his prowess with three sixes and nine fours off 161 balls.
He received solid support from debutant Ben Curran, who contributed 68 runs, and captain Craig Ervine, who remained not out on 56. The partnership between Williams and Ervine, which added 143 runs, was vital in stabilizing the Zimbabwean innings after a shaky start.
Afghanistan’s teenage off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar was the standout bowler, claiming two wickets for 83 runs, but overall, the Afghan bowling attack struggled to make an impact. Zimbabwe’s strong beginning places them in a promising position as they aim to establish a significant first-innings lead.
The match is delicately balanced, and Afghanistan will need to regroup and mount a strong challenge in the days ahead to counter Zimbabwe’s dominance.
