Zimbabwe (ZIM) vs Afghanistan (AFG), 1st Test Match, LIVE:
Welcome to our live coverage of the first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, taking place at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo!
After conceding defeats to Afghanistan in the ODI and T20I series, the Zimbabwe cricket team will now be aiming to pull off a comeback in the Tests.
The upcoming series against Afghanistan will witness Zimbabwe hosting their first-ever Boxing Day Test at home in 28 years. The series will also mark their first New Year’s Test as well. Their last home Boxing Day Test match was held in 1996. It was a rain-affected draw against England at the Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe have a few uncapped players in the Test squad like batters Ben Curran, Johnathan Campbell, wicketkeepers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Nyasha Mayavo, and pace bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira and Newman Nyamhuri. The hosts will be led by Craig Ervine in the Test series against Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan will play under the captaincy of Hashmatullah Shahidi in the Test series against Zimbabwe. The visitors have some prominent faces like Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmat Shah in the Test squad for the two-match series against Zimbabwe.
LIVE FEED
7.4 – Good length and around off. Curran guides it to point.
7.3 – On the stumps. Kept out well.
7.2 – Back of a length and on off. This is pushed to the cover region.
7.1 – FOUR! Shot of the day so far! Beautiful! Fuller and on off. Curran shows the full face of the bat and then creams it down the ground. This runs away to the long off fence. Top stroke.
6.6 – Angled into the pads. Gumbie tucks it to mid-wicket.
Batsman_1 : Joylord Gumbie 4(23)
Batsman_2 : Ben Curran 24(19)
Bowler : AM Ghazanfar 0/2(1)
Over : 7
Run : 2
Wicket : 0
Score : 28/0
6.5 – Flatter and on middle. This is pushed to cover.
6.4 – Another run! On the stumps. Curran nudges it around the corner for one.
6.3 – On the pads. Gumbie works it on the leg side and gets to the other end.
6.2 – On the stumps this time. Defended nicely.
6.1 – Flatter and outside off. Left alone.
5.6 – Fuller and on off. Curran pushes it to mid off. A dot to end but the damage was done earlier on.
Batsman_1 : Ben Curran 23(18)
Batsman_2 : Joylord Gumbie 3(18)
Bowler : Azmatullah Omarzai 0/19(3)
Over : 6
Run : 10
Wicket : 0
Score : 26/0
5.5 – FOUR! On the leg side this time! A little too short and Curran pounces onto it. He slams it past mid-wicket and this gets to the fence in no time. Top stroke. Good over for the hosts.
5.4 – Length and on off. Drags his length back. Blocked.
5.3 – FOUR! Thats a lovely stroke! Beautifully played! A little too full and around off. Curran creams it past cover. This one races away to the fence.
5.2 – Slightly shorter this time. Curran punches it past cover and takes two.
5.1 – Good length and around off. Curran stands tall and blocks it.
4.6 – Angling on the pads. Curran tucks it to deep square leg for a single.
Batsman_1 : Ben Curran 13(12)
Batsman_2 : Joylord Gumbie 3(18)
Bowler : Naveed Zadran 0/7(3)
Over : 5
Run : 2
Wicket : 0
Score : 16/0
4.5 – Tad fuller and on middle, Gumbie looks to defend but splices it to cover for a single. Hashmatullah Shahidi goes after it, slides and stops. The skipper is holding his right knee as he bumps into the ground while stopping it. The physio is out. Hashmatullah Shahidi is limping a bit but looks okay.
4.5 – Tad fuller and on middle, Gumbie looks to defend but splices it to cover for a single. Hashmatullah Shahidi goes after it, slides and stops. Hi right knee bumps in the ground and the skipper is in pain. The physio is called.
4.4 – Keeps it full and around off, Gumbie leans into his defensive shot.
4.3 – Three dots! Zadran serves it full and on middle and leg. Gumbie keeps it out.
4.2 – Goes full and outside off, Gumbie pushes it straight to point.
3.5 – More runs! Decent start by Zimbabwe! Full and on the pads, Curran flicks it square leg for a couple of runs.
3.4 – Short of a length and on the hips, Gumbie tickles it to fine leg for a single.
4.1 – Shapes in a length ball around off, Gumbie defends it out.
3.6 – Outside off, Curran lets it go.
Batsman_1 : Ben Curran 12(11)
Batsman_2 : Joylord Gumbie 2(13)
Bowler : Azmatullah Omarzai 0/9(2)
Over : 4
Run : 4
Wicket : 0
Score : 14/0
3.3 – Slants it full and on the pads. Curran nudges it to deep square leg and rotates the strike.
3.2 – On a length and on middle, Curran defends it out.
3.1 – JUST SHORT! Touch fuller and outside off, Curran looks to defend but it moves away and he plays with soft hand. The edge flies to the slip fielder but falls short.
2.6 – Short of a length and outside off, Gumbie leaves it alone.
Batsman_1 : Joylord Gumbie 1(12)
Batsman_2 : Ben Curran 9(6)
Bowler : Naveed Zadran 0/5(2)
Over : 3
Run : 3
Wicket : 0
Score : 10/0
2.5 – Slants it full and on the pads. Gumbie tucks it to square leg.
2.4 – Very full and around off, shapes in. Gumbie pushes it to cover.
2.3 – Length ball, outside off, Gumbie leaves it alone to the keeper.
