Zimbabwe fight back after Afghan batters put up sublime show

Rahmat Shah played a captain's knock as Zimbabwe bowlers led the fight back after centuries from Afghanistan's Sediqullah Atal (105) and Rahmanullah (113) on an eventful third day of the first Test match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

At stumps, Afghanistan were 402/7, trailing by 102 runs, with Shah (94) on the crease along with Zia ur Rehman. Qais Ahmed (27) and Shah shared a stand of 55 runs for the seventh wicket before the former became the fourth victim of Nyamhuri in the dying moments of the day.

Qais nicked a rising delivery which landed in the safe hands of Tsiga.Shah was waging the lone battle as wicket kept on falling on the other end. Shah played watchfully with patience and determination and carved out a fighting fifty.

After Afghanistan dominated the first session of the third day completely, Zimbabwe fought back through their bowlers, turning it upside down. On a topsy-turvy day, the match kept on tilting in favour of either side.

That is the beauty of a Test match, one good over or one bad session changes the complexion of the game.

Afghanistan were cruising along nicely as both the batsmen were unbeaten after a double-century stand for the second wicket. But as soon as the second session began, things changed drastically for Afghanistan. Cremer broke the partnership in the third over after the lunch break.

Cremer bowled a short delivery outside the off stumps, Atal tried to slice it to the point but the ball took a thick edge and landed in the gloves of wicket-keeper Tsiga. 

Atla's dismissal not only brought a sigh of relief in Zimbabwe's camp but also opened the floodgates for their bowlers. After adding just 31 runs for the third wicket with captain Rahmat Shah, Rehmanullah had to depart.

There can be nothing more painful in Test cricket than to get run out. Rahmanullah was found short of his ground. After doing all the hard work, he threw away his wicket to a run out.

Madhevere rattled his bails with a direct throw when Rahmanullah tried to steal a cheeky single which never existed.

Nyamhuri got rid of Hashmatullah and Shahidullah in quick succession as Afghanistan were reduced to 275/5 from 220/1. They lost four wickets within a space of 55 runs in one session. Nymahuri had Shahidi and Shahidullah caught by Bennett and Tsiga respectively.

Afghanistan were trailing by more than 200 runs and needed someone to play the sheet anchor role to curtail the deficit. Shah played a captain's knock and added 65 runs for the sixth wicket with Ikram Aikhil.

They put the faltering innings back on track. Shah reached his  fifty with a single in 109 balls. It was studded with three fours and one six.

Just before the drinks break in the last session of the day, Afghanistan lost the wicket of Aikhil. Cremer struck once again to break another stand which was developing into a dangerous partnership. Cremer had Aikhil caught by Curran to pick up his second scalp of the day. 

Earlier, resuming from the overnight score of 113/1, Afghanistan batters Atal and Rahmanullah both started their innings confidently. They batted with resoluteness and played out the first session watchfully without losing any wickets.

With the sun shining brightly, there was no moisture in the wicket so the Zimbabwe pacers failed to extract any kind of help from the turf.

Both Sediqullah and Rahman paced their innings beautifully after getting their eyes in. They played every delivery on its merit. Afghan batsmen were tried and tested over and again by Zimbabwe bowlers who constantly hit the deck hard to extract some kind of bounce from the turf.

But both the Afghan batsmen kept on leaving the balls pitched outside off stump. Spinners were brought on attack by Bennet, but also failed to break the partnership which had already grown over 150.

Rahmanullah was more aggressive of the two but Atal showed great temperament as he batted with patience. Rahmanullah was the first to reach his maiden century with a boundary. He became the only second batsman from Afghanistan to score a century on debut.

He raced to his 100 in just 157 balls with the help of 12 fours and one six.

In the next over, Atal also completed his second century on a trot in Test matches.

He came down the track and played a lofted shot to clear the inside field and the ball raced to the boundary rope as Atal reached his century in 202 deliveries , hitting six boundaries and three huge sixes.

Zimbabwe bowlers were looking for some strategy to break the dangerous-looking partnership. Afghanistan were 216/1 at lunch and the match was looking set to be heading for a draw. By lunch both the players had added more than 200 runs for the second wicket that is the highest partnership for the second wicket in Afghanistan's brief Test history.