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Rahmat Shah‘s masterful century anchored Afghanistan’s innings and turned the tide decisively in their favor on Day 3 of the ongoing Test match against Zimbabwe. Beginning the day in a precarious position at 46/3, Afghanistan faced immense pressure from a disciplined Zimbabwean bowling attack. However, Rahmat displayed extraordinary composure and technical prowess, navigating the challenges with remarkable precision.
His unbeaten innings of 139 runs was not just a personal milestone but a testament to his ability to deliver under pressure. Supported by crucial partnerships, Rahmat ensured that Afghanistan transformed a shaky start into a commanding lead. Despite moments of brilliance with the ball, Zimbabwe failed to sustain their momentum as Afghanistan’s batters consolidated through the day. By stumps, Afghanistan had tightened their grip on the match with a lead of 205 runs, leaving Zimbabwe with a daunting task in the final innings.
Day 3 begins with Afghanistan on the back foot
The third day began with Afghanistan on the back foot, precariously placed at 46/3 and trailing Zimbabwe’s first-innings score. Zimbabwe’s pace attack, led by Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, continued to extract movement from the surface, making life difficult for the Afghan batters in the morning session. The duo bowled with discipline, forcing Afghanistan to adopt a cautious approach to avoid further setbacks. Shahidullah partnered with Rahmat to steady the innings, carefully considering the early threat.
However, Zimbabwe’s persistence paid off when Shahidullah fell to Muzarabani, caught by Takudzwanashe Kaitano. At 69/5, Afghanistan was in a fragile position, but Rahmat’s determination became evident as he began to rebuild the innings with a calculated shot selection. By lunch, Afghanistan had reached 125/5, thanks to Rahmat’s unyielding focus, providing a glimmer of hope for a recovery.
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Rahmat Shah’s century anchors Afghanistan
Rahmat was the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s resurgence, playing an innings that will be remembered for its sheer grit and elegance. Facing relentless pressure from Zimbabwe’s bowlers, Rahmat initially adopted a defensive approach, ensuring no further wickets fell during his time at the crease. His partnership with Ismat Alam proved crucial as the duo added 132 runs for the eight wicket, stabilizing the innings and frustrating the opposition.
Rahmat’s shot selection was impeccable; he balanced solid defense with calculated aggression, punishing anything overpitched or wide. His century was a moment of pure class, reached with a stylish flick to square leg, bringing the entire Afghan dressing room to its feet in applause. The knock, spanning nearly five hours and featuring 14 boundaries, epitomized resilience and showcased his ability to adapt to the demands of Test cricket. Even after reaching the milestone, Rahmat continued to accumulate runs, ensuring Afghanistan moved into a position of strength.
Zimbabwe’s bowling falters in the final session
As the day wore on, Zimbabwe’s bowlers seemed to lose their earlier discipline and intensity, allowing Afghanistan to capitalize in the final session. Although Rahmat fell late in the day to Muzarabani, his dismissal did little to halt Afghanistan’s progress. The lower middle order, led by Rashid Khan and Alam, contributed vital runs, frustrating Zimbabwe further. Alam, in particular, counter-attacked effectively, finding boundaries with ease and ensuring the scoreboard continued to tick over.
Zimbabwe had moments of success, with Muzarabani claiming key wickets and Ngarava keeping things tight, but they lacked the consistency required to bundle out Afghanistan cheaply. By the time stumps were called due to rain, Afghanistan had amassed 291/7, securing a significant lead that placed them firmly in control. With the pitch beginning to show signs of wear and tear, Zimbabwe now faces an uphill battle to save the match, with their batters needing to negotiate a challenging Day 4 against a spirited Afghan bowling attack.
Rain has enforced early stumps on day 3 in Bulawayo as AfghanAtalan reached 291/7, leading by 205 runs.
Tomorrow morning, play will begin 30 minutes earlier at 12:00 PM (AFT). 👍#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/aeNwpZWVtt
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 4, 2025
