Desk Report:Zimbabwe are set to play their second Test of the year in the last week of 2024. That too on Boxing Day at home. The opening day has been a good one, however. Zimbabwe ended the day with 363 for 4 in the first innings against Afghanistan.
Shaun Williams brought a comfortable end to the first day for Zimbabwe, who have been playing Tests since July. The 38-year-old experienced batsman ended the day on 145 not out. Captain Craig Ervine left the field with 56 runs.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat at the Queen Sports Club ground in Bulawayo, losing their first wicket for 43 runs. Joylord Gambhir returned to the ball of Naveed Zadran. Another opener, Ben Curran, however, did not stop before fifty. The brother of two English cricketers Sam Curran and Tom Curran, this Zimbabwean made 68 runs off 74 balls in his debut innings.
After Karen’s dismissal for 92 runs, Zimbabwe lost two more wickets. Takudzwanashe Kaitano returned with 46 and Dion Myers with 27 runs. Mysterious spinner Allah Ghazanfar got his first wicket on his Test debut by getting Myers back on a return catch.Williams then continued to hold the hosts in check for the rest of the day, scoring his fifth career century. Williams had previously scored a Test century against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in March 2021. However, Zimbabwe have since played a total of seven Tests, of which Williams played only against Ireland in Belfast in July this year.
Brief Scores-
Zimbabwe first innings: 363/4 in 85 overs (Williams 145*, Curran 68, Ervin 56*, Kaetano 46; Ghoznafar 2/83, Naveed 1/64).
(End of first day).
