Mon Jan 06 07:40:00 UTC 2025: **Afghanistan Clinches Test Series Win Over Zimbabwe with Dominant Display**
BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE – Afghanistan secured a resounding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second Test at Queens Sports Club on Monday, claiming the two-match series. The win marks Afghanistan’s first Test victory in four years.
Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the architect of Zimbabwe’s downfall, taking an incredible seven wickets in the second innings to finish with match figures of 11-160. His devastating performance followed a six-wicket haul in the first innings. Khan’s efforts overshadowed even his own Player of the Match award, as he praised the contributions of centurions Rahmat Shah (139) and debutant Ismat Alam (101), who both scored crucial centuries in Afghanistan’s second innings.
Zimbabwe, resuming on 205-8 and needing 73 runs to win, were unable to add to their overnight score. They were swiftly bowled out for 205, with captain Craig Ervine’s 53 being the top score. Ervine fell victim to Khan’s leg-break, becoming another statistic in the spinner’s impressive tally.
Despite the rain interruptions throughout the match, Afghanistan’s superior performance across both batting and bowling proved decisive. Khan, recovering from back surgery, attributed the team’s success to their ability to adapt to changing conditions that favored bowlers initially, before swinging in favor of the batsmen later in the match. The series win marks a significant achievement for Afghanistan, solidifying their position in Test cricket.
First Piper 