On the first day of the Test against Afghanistan, Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams scored an unbeaten 145, contributing to a total of 363 for four. Williams is nearing his career-best score and received strong support from Ben Curran and Craig Ervine. The Afghan bowlers struggled to maintain control, complicating their efforts to secure wickets.
In the inaugural day of the first Test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, veteran Zimbabwean cricketer Sean Williams exhibited remarkable form, remaining undefeated at 145 runs. His performance propelled Zimbabwe to a formidable total of 363 for four at stumps. Williams, making his 16th Test appearance, came in at No. 4 after an initial contribution from debutant opener Ben Curran, who scored 68 runs.
Williams, aged 38, is just seven runs shy of surpassing his highest Test score of 151, achieved during a previous encounter against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi three years prior. His innings featured three sixes and nine fours from 161 balls faced. Notably, he formed substantial partnerships with Takudzwanashe Kaitano (46 runs) and captain Craig Ervine, whose unbeaten 56 contributed to a pivotal 143-run partnership.
Curran, whose late father was former Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran, marked his debut with an impressive 74-ball performance that included 11 fours. Despite the efforts of the teenage Afghan off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar, who took two wickets for 83 runs, the Afghan bowling attack struggled overall, characterized by ineffective line, length, and fielding errors. This Test marks a significant occasion as it is the first Boxing Day Test in Zimbabwe in nearly three decades since hosting England in Harare in 1995.
The engagement between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in the Test format highlights both teams’ aspirations to secure victory following prior match-ups that yielded limited success. Zimbabwe, seeking to bolster their Test performance, has historically struggled but showcased resilience in their batting efforts during this match. The significance of the match is further underscored by Williams’ approach to reassess his career high, aiming to establish a more impressive record in light of recent performances. Furthermore, the context of both teams having not claimed a Test victory over each other in recent years adds an additional layer of competition to their engagement.
Sean Williams’ outstanding performance not only reflects his individual capabilities as a seasoned cricketer but also emphasizes Zimbabwe’s potential to recover from past deficiencies in batting. With crucial contributions from other players such as Ben Curran and Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe has positioned itself favorably in the match against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will need to refocus their bowling strategy as they seek to challenge Zimbabwe’s growing momentum.
Original Source: www.france24.com
