BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stood firm on 179 not out as Afghanistan closed in on Zimbabwe’s mammoth first-innings total on a rain-affected fourth day of the first Test at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
Trailing by 71 runs, Afghanistan reached 515 for 3 in reply to Zimbabwe’s record 586, but rain halted play shortly after 1 p.m. local time. The umpires waited nearly four hours before abandoning the day’s play, leaving a draw the most likely outcome in this batter-dominated contest.
The match has seen multiple standout performances, including Rahmat Shah’s career-best 234. Shah and Shahidi shared a record-breaking 364-run partnership for the third wicket before Shah fell early in the day, edging debutant Newman Nyamhuri to Ben Curran in the gully. Shah’s marathon innings included three sixes and 23 fours from 424 balls.
Shahidi, however, remained resolute, accumulating his runs with patience and precision. His innings, laced with 18 fours, is 22 runs short of his career-best Test score of 200 not out, also achieved against Zimbabwe three years ago.
The skipper received valuable support from wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai, who was unbeaten on 46 at stumps. Zazai faced 87 balls, striking a six and three fours to keep Afghanistan’s hopes alive.
Zimbabwe’s bowling struggles
Zimbabwe’s six-man bowling attack toiled on a flat wicket. Medium-pacer Trevor Gwandu managed an early breakthrough, dismissing opener Sediqullah Atal for three, but he proved costly, conceding 107 runs.
The home side will rue their inability to make further inroads as Shahidi and Zazai batted cautiously through the latter part of the innings.
Rain threatens final-day play
With more rain forecast for Monday, chances of a result appear slim. Both teams are chasing their first Test victory since defeating each other three years ago in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan entered the Test buoyed by series wins in the T20 and one-day formats on this tour. The second and final Test is scheduled to begin on January 2.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 586 in 135.2 overs (Sean Williams 154, Brian Bennett 113 not out, Craig Ervine 101, Ben Curran 68; Allah Ghazanfar 3-127)
Afghanistan 515-3 in 156 overs (Rahmat Shah 234, Hashmatullah Shahidi 179 not out, Afsar Zazai 46 not out)
Rain stopped play.
Toss: Zimbabwe.
