New Delhi, January 6 (HS): Afghanistan on Monday defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in a two-match series in Bulawayo to win its first bilateral Test series. The first Test played in Bulawayo ended in a draw.

This is Afghanistan's fourth win in 11 matches since gaining Test status in 2017. Its only multi-game Test series has been against Zimbabwe twice, the first of which, played in 2021, ended in a 1-1 draw.

In the second Test match at Queens Sports Club, Zimbabwe won the toss and invited Afghanistan to bat first. Afghanistan's batsmen could not do much and the team was all out for just 157 runs. Rashid Khan scored the highest 25 runs for Afghanistan, while Sikandar Raza and Newman Nyamhuri took 3-3 wickets for Zimbabwe, while Blessing Muzarabani took 2 and Richard Ngarava took 1 wicket.

In reply, Zimbabwe scored 243 runs in their first innings and took a lead of 46 runs, thanks to half-centuries from captain Craig Ervine (75) and Sikandar Raza (61) and Sean Williams' innings of 49 runs. Rashid Khan took 4, Yamin Ahmadzai took 3, Farid Ahmad took 2 and Zia ur Rahman took 1 wicket for Afghanistan.

After this, Afghanistan scored 363 runs in their second innings, thanks to centuries from Rahmat Shah (139) and Ismat Alam (101), and set a target of 278 runs for Zimbabwe. In the second innings, Blessing Muzarabani took 6 wickets, Richard Ngarava took 3 and Sikandar Raza took 1 wicket for Zimbabwe.

Chasing the target of 278 runs, Zimbabwe's team was all out for 205 runs. Craig Ervine played a brilliant half-century of 53 runs for Zimbabwe. Apart from Ervine, Ben Karan and Sikandar Raza scored 38-38 runs. For Afghanistan, charismatic spinner Rashid Khan took 7 wickets. Apart from Rashid, Zia ur Rahman took 2 wickets.

Rashid Khan was selected Man of the Match and Rahmat Shah was selected Man of the Series for his brilliant bowling.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar