Afghanistan secured a 72-run victory over Zimbabwe on Monday, winning the two-Test series in style. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan played a key role, taking his seventh wicket of the innings to wrap up the win at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe, who began the final day at 205-8 with captain Craig Ervine unbeaten on 53, needed 73 more runs to win. However, they were unable to add any runs to their overnight score. Afghanistan needed just 15 deliveries to seal the win, with Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava run out for three. Khan (7-66), who had already taken six wickets in the first innings, dismissed Ervine leg before, ending Zimbabwe’s hopes of a comeback.
Ervine top-scored for Zimbabwe with 75 runs off 103 balls, including a six and four fours. Khan’s remarkable performance throughout the match, which was interrupted several times by rain, included four wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings, helping Afghanistan overcome an 86-run deficit.
After being named player of the match, Khan deflected praise onto his teammates, particularly Rahmat Shah and debutant Ismat Alam. Shah, who scored 139 in Afghanistan’s second innings, was named player of the series, while Alam’s 101 helped Afghanistan post 363, setting a formidable target for Zimbabwe.
“The way they performed in the second innings really got us back into the match,” Khan said, acknowledging Alam’s resilience after a duck in his first innings. “Ismat carried on for the sake of his country despite being hurt.”
Khan, recovering from back surgery, said taking 11 wickets was particularly encouraging. “It was all about adapting to the conditions, which initially favoured the bowlers but eventually the batters,” he added.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan: 157 (Rashid Khan 25; S. Raza 3-30, N. Nyamhuri 3-42)
Afghanistan: 363/9 in 113.5 overs (Rahmat Shah 139, Ismat Alam 101; B. Muzarabani 6-95, R. Ngarava 3-76)
Zimbabwe: 243 (C. Ervine 75, S. Raza 61, S. Williams 49; Rashid Khan 4-94, Yamin Ahmadzai 3-62)
Zimbabwe: 205 in 68.3 overs (C. Ervine 53, B. Curran 38, S. Raza 38; Rashid Khan 7-66)
Result: Afghanistan won by 72 runs
Toss: Zimbabwe
