New Delhi: Leg-spinner Rashid Khan’s brilliant spell helped Afghanistan defeat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in the second and final Test match of the series at the Queens Sports Club on Monday, January 5. The visitors also clinched the two-match series by 1-0.
Zimbabwe were already on the verge of losing the Test heading into the final day at 205 for 8. They lost the last two wickets without scoring any runs to their overnight tally. There was plenty of drama even in the short span of play on the last day.
Rashid started the last day bowling to No.10 batter Richard Ngarava. On the fourth ball of the over, Ngarava tried to slice the ball but only managed to get an edge, Hashmatullah Shahidi at cover dropped the easy catch. But he fell in the very next over due to miscommunication with Craig Ervine and was run out by Shahidullah Kamal.
Rashid removed Ervine on 53 runs to take his seventh wicket of the innings as Afghanistan won the second Test. Earlier Zimbabwe opted to field first and bowled out Afghanistan for 157 runs. None of the Afghani batters managed to cross 30 run-mark in the first innings. Nyamhuri and Sikandar Raza picked up three wickets each.
Craig Ervine, Raza and Sean William batted brilliantly as the hosts took a lead in the first innings. Ervine scored 75 runs off 165 balls and Raza also scored 61 runs off 104 balls while Williams also amassed 49 runs. Rashid Khan picked up 4 wickets and Ahmadzai took 3 wickets.
Rahmat Shah and Ismat Alam scored stunning hundreds in the second innings for Afghanistan which allowed them to post a good total on the scoreboard. Ben Curran, Kaitano and Raza got starts in the second innings but Rashid removed them on Day 4. Ervine attempted to save the match but the middle and lower order failed to make any contribution in the run-chase.
Rashid Khan scripted history in the second Test
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan took 11 wickets in the second Test match and played a massive role in the team’s victory. His overall wicket tally reached to 45 after six Test matches and he scripted history by becoming the first spinner to take most wickets after six Tests. Overall, Rashid is second on the list of most wickets after six Test matches along with South Africa’s Vernon Philander (45 wickets). Australian pacer Charlie Turner is in first position on the list with 50 wickets.
Rashid Khan created history as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in the second and final Test match of the series at the Queens Sports Club on Monday, January 5. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
