Raza and Nyamhuri share the spoils as Afghanistan go all out for 157

Veteran Sikandar Raza and teenager newman Nyamhuri took three wickets each as Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 157 on the first day of the second Test in Bulawayo on Thursday.

Zimbabwe had responded 6-0 at stumps after the start of the game was delayed by four hours due to a wet outfield at Queens Sports Club in the southern city.

Captain Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to bowl, believing the conditions would favor his attack, which took a beating in the drawn first Test, conceding 699 runs in the first innings.

His gamble paid off as off-spinner Raza and fast Nyamhuri starred and took a valuable Afghanistan wicket each.

“Given the conditions, I was convinced that bowling first was the way to go. The wicket had been covered for some time,” Ervine said.

Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah had scored double centuries in the first Test as they added a national record of 364 runs for the third wicket.

After the dismissals of openers Abdul Malik and Test debutant Riaz Hassan with 29 runs on the scoreboard, Shah and Shahidi came back together.

But last week’s run-fest was not to be repeated: Shahidi managed just 13 runs and Shah 19.

Shahidi was the first to fall, with Nyamhuri, an 18-year-old making only his second Test appearance, jamming his leg. The skipper hit two fours as he reached 30 with Shah.

Shah was the next victim as he failed to hit a Raza delivery and his leg stump flew.

Lower-order batsman Rashid Khan threatened a rebound with a quick 25. He then hit a poorly placed shot that Brian Bennett intercepted at a deep spot.

His departure left the tourists reeling at 125-8, but a 27-run stand in the last wicket between Zia-ur-Rehman and Fareed Ahmad helped boost the total score.

Short scores

Afghanistan 157 in 44.3 overs vs Zimbabwe 6-0 in 3 overs

Litter: Zimbabwe

str/mw

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.