1
0
0
0
1
0
= 2
Match Details
AFG vs ZIM, Only TEST, AFG vs ZIM 2025 live
Day 2-Session 3
AFG 127(32.3)
34-112.0
Stumps
CRR : 2.83
AFG trail by 198 runs
AFG trail by 198 runs
+
P'ship : 24(48)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Inn 3
Inn 4
Milestone
12:30 PM IST, 9:00 AM local time: Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the live coverage of Day 3. Is today the day when this Zimbabwean Test express finally sees the light?
Remember? When the year started, the conversations were all about the number of Test matches that Zimbabwe are going to play and how it will help them become a better team. Time and time again, their fans turned up in numbers — not just at home — spurring the team on with their passionate chants and singing, only to end up disappointed. The Chevrons have lost six of the seven Tests they played this year — four of them by an innings.
But what do they say? There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Zimbabwe are in pole position in this match and their fans would even be dreaming of an innings win. Can they do it? Or will we see a fightback from Afghanistan? Plenty to look forward to.
The duo of Darpan Tikiya and Arjun Bhalla have ensconced the commentators' hot-seats, and alongside scorer Rajesh Pal, will ensure that you do not miss a beat from the first two sessions. So, get ready to follow along.
Remember? When the year started, the conversations were all about the number of Test matches that Zimbabwe are going to play and how it will help them become a better team. Time and time again, their fans turned up in numbers — not just at home — spurring the team on with their passionate chants and singing, only to end up disappointed. The Chevrons have lost six of the seven Tests they played this year — four of them by an innings.
But what do they say? There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Zimbabwe are in pole position in this match and their fans would even be dreaming of an innings win. Can they do it? Or will we see a fightback from Afghanistan? Plenty to look forward to.
The duo of Darpan Tikiya and Arjun Bhalla have ensconced the commentators' hot-seats, and alongside scorer Rajesh Pal, will ensure that you do not miss a beat from the first two sessions. So, get ready to follow along.
That's it from our coverage of Day 2 of the Test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. This is Mohammad Anab, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Arjun Bhalla and Manan Mehta. A shout-out to our scorer/analyst Rajesh Pal. Cheers.
Session Breakdown on Day 2:
Session 1: Overs - 24, Runs - 84, Wickets - 2
Session 2: Overs - 27.4, Runs - 88, Wickets - 2
Session 3: Overs - 25.2, Runs - 91, Wickets - 5
Session 1: Overs - 24, Runs - 84, Wickets - 2
Session 2: Overs - 27.4, Runs - 88, Wickets - 2
Session 3: Overs - 25.2, Runs - 91, Wickets - 5
8:57 PM IST, 5:27 PM Local Time: Stumps have been called on Day 2. Afghanistan end the day at 34/1 in their 12 overs. Umpires had to call for stumps a few minutes before the scheduled close of play because of the bad light.
The day started with Zimbabwe at their overnight score of 130/2 with Ben Curran and Brendan Taylor unbeaten at the crease. The duo started well against the Afghanistan pacers, especially Yamin Ahmadzai and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi. But it didn't take much time before Sharifi castled out Taylor's stumps. The experienced Zimbabwean batter departed for 32 and had to pay for not using his feet against the moving ball.
Then came skipper Craig Ervine, who was undone by a beautiful inswinger from Ismat Alam. He just added five runs on the scoreboard. After that, Sikandar Raza and Curran stitched a 99-run stand for the fifth wicket. Raza looked like a man in a hurry and constantly played his shots. He made 65 (88) and missed out on a ton after he went for an unnecessary slog sweep off Sharafuddin Ashraf.
After that, Curran departed for a brilliant 121 off 256 balls. With this ton, he became the first Zimbabwean opener to score a ton in home Tests since 2017. Also, he became the first Zimbabwean opener since 1997 to score a Test century at the Harare Sports Club ground.
After his dismissal, Brad Evans took the responsibility and stitched some useful partnerships with the Zimbabwean tailenders to take the score to 359. He, along with his tail-end partners, frustrated the Afghanistan players badly. In the end, Evans ran out of partners and stayed unbeaten at 35.
For Afghanistan, it was Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, who bowled a magical spell of 7/97 and attained the best figures for an Afghan player on Test debut. Afghanistan looked better when the second new ball was changed after skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi found it not suitable. Apart from Sharifi, Ismat Alam also got two wickets. He could have got two more had he not bowled an overstepping no-ball on those.
Trailing by 232 runs, Afghanistan returned for their second innings with about an hour of play left in the day. Opener Abdul Malik (2) fell into the trap set by seamer Richard Ngarava, who first bowled a few full deliveries before going for a bouncer on which Malik hooked it straight into the hands of the deep fine leg fielder Blessing Muzarabani.
Then Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz batted cautiously against Zimbabwe's new ball bowlers. Both of them took Afghanistan to 34/1 by the close of play and ensured that their side didn't lose any further wickets on Day 2.
However, they got a bit of relaxation in the final few minutes of the play after the umpires asked Zimbabwe to bowl a spinner from one of the ends. They continuously checked their light meter as the issue of bad light crept in late in the day, and the umpires had to call for stumps a few minutes before the scheduled close of play.
Like yesterday, 70-odd overs were bowled today as well. The over-rate has been below par for the second consecutive day. Yesterday, 12 wickets went down, while today nine wickets fell.
Afghanistan trail by 198 runs in their second innings and will have to bat extremely good on Day 3 if they have to set a fighting target against Zimbabwe in the fourth innings.
The day started with Zimbabwe at their overnight score of 130/2 with Ben Curran and Brendan Taylor unbeaten at the crease. The duo started well against the Afghanistan pacers, especially Yamin Ahmadzai and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi. But it didn't take much time before Sharifi castled out Taylor's stumps. The experienced Zimbabwean batter departed for 32 and had to pay for not using his feet against the moving ball.
Then came skipper Craig Ervine, who was undone by a beautiful inswinger from Ismat Alam. He just added five runs on the scoreboard. After that, Sikandar Raza and Curran stitched a 99-run stand for the fifth wicket. Raza looked like a man in a hurry and constantly played his shots. He made 65 (88) and missed out on a ton after he went for an unnecessary slog sweep off Sharafuddin Ashraf.
After that, Curran departed for a brilliant 121 off 256 balls. With this ton, he became the first Zimbabwean opener to score a ton in home Tests since 2017. Also, he became the first Zimbabwean opener since 1997 to score a Test century at the Harare Sports Club ground.
After his dismissal, Brad Evans took the responsibility and stitched some useful partnerships with the Zimbabwean tailenders to take the score to 359. He, along with his tail-end partners, frustrated the Afghanistan players badly. In the end, Evans ran out of partners and stayed unbeaten at 35.
For Afghanistan, it was Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, who bowled a magical spell of 7/97 and attained the best figures for an Afghan player on Test debut. Afghanistan looked better when the second new ball was changed after skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi found it not suitable. Apart from Sharifi, Ismat Alam also got two wickets. He could have got two more had he not bowled an overstepping no-ball on those.
Trailing by 232 runs, Afghanistan returned for their second innings with about an hour of play left in the day. Opener Abdul Malik (2) fell into the trap set by seamer Richard Ngarava, who first bowled a few full deliveries before going for a bouncer on which Malik hooked it straight into the hands of the deep fine leg fielder Blessing Muzarabani.
Then Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz batted cautiously against Zimbabwe's new ball bowlers. Both of them took Afghanistan to 34/1 by the close of play and ensured that their side didn't lose any further wickets on Day 2.
However, they got a bit of relaxation in the final few minutes of the play after the umpires asked Zimbabwe to bowl a spinner from one of the ends. They continuously checked their light meter as the issue of bad light crept in late in the day, and the umpires had to call for stumps a few minutes before the scheduled close of play.
Like yesterday, 70-odd overs were bowled today as well. The over-rate has been below par for the second consecutive day. Yesterday, 12 wickets went down, while today nine wickets fell.
Afghanistan trail by 198 runs in their second innings and will have to bat extremely good on Day 3 if they have to set a fighting target against Zimbabwe in the fourth innings.
OVER 12
Afghanistan
34/1
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
7(24)
Ibrahim Zadran
25(37)
Brad Evans
0-3(2.0)
11.6 B Evans to R Gurbaz
0 Slightly shorter delivery on off-stump. Gurbaz pushes it in the offside.
11.5 B Evans to R Gurbaz
0 Back of a length, attacking the off-stump. Gurbaz hops back and nudges it in the onside.
11.4 B Evans to R Gurbaz
0 Fuller length on off-stump, angled away. Gurbaz pushes to the right of the bowler.
11.3 B Evans to R Gurbaz
0 Pitched too full outside off-stump. Gurbaz checks his drive to extra cover.
11.2 B Evans to R Gurbaz
0 Good length pinned on off-stump. Swings away from Gurbaz, who pushes back to the bowler with soft hands.
Commentary