Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2021, 1st Test: Day 1 - Zimbabwe End The Day With 2 Runs Lead After Bundling Out Afghanistan For 131 Runs

The opening day of the two-match Test series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was totally the bowlers’ day as a total of 15 wickets were fallen in the entire day.

Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan chose to bat first after winning the toss. However, they were bundled out for just 131 runs. In reply, Zimbabwe ended the day on 133/5 with a lead of 2 runs.

Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2021, 1st Test: Day 1 – Blessing Muzarabani and Victor Nyauchi unsettled Afghanistan batsmen

Zimbabwe started this Test match with a wicket as Blessing Muzarabani bowled the Test debutant Abdul Malik for a golden duck on the first ball of the match. The first innings of the match totally had the struggling stories for Afghanistan as Zimbabwe pacers Muzarabani and Victor Nyauchi dominated with the ball in hand.

Only opener Ibrahim Zadran (31) and wicket-keeper batsman Afsar Zazai (37) managed to reach the 20-run mark in that innings. Only three more Afghan batters managed to score double-digit runs in that innings.

Blessing Muzarabani got four wickets while Victor Nyauchi picked up three wickets as they had the bowling figures of 12-3-48-4 and 10-1-34-3.

Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2021, 1st Test: Day 1 – Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza rescued after Chevrons went down to 38/4

Afghanistan bowlers also have got a very good start as opener Kevin Kasuza (0) was dismissed by the pacer Yamin Ahmadzai on the fourth ball of that innings. Later, Zimbabwe were struggling on 38/4 as the left-arm spinner Amir Hamza took the wickets of opener Prince Masvaure (15), Tarisai Musakanda (7) and debutant Wesley Madhevere (0).

Then their experienced cricketers, skipper Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza handled that situation very well and set up the 71 runs partnership for the fifth wicket. But after scoring 43 runs, Raza lost his wicket as Hamza got another wicket. Meanwhile, captain Williams completed his brilliant fifty in 71 balls.

Amir Hamza ended the day with the bowling figures of 17-1-61-4.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan – 131 (Afsar Zazai 37, Ibrahim Zadran 31; Blessing Muzarabani 4/48)

Zimbabwe – 133/5 (Sean Williams 54*, Sikandar Raza 43; Amir Hamza 4/61)

Latest Status (at the stumps of day 1) – Zimbabwe are leading by 2 runs