Historic Performance by Brad Evans
On the opening day of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan in Harare, Brad Evans made headlines as he shattered Zimbabwe's bowling records. With a staggering performance, Evans took five wickets, propelling Zimbabwe to a dominant position.
Zimbabwe's Bowling Attack
Evans, returning to the Test side after a two-year hiatus, showed unmatched skill, capturing five out of the last seven Afghan wickets. He conceded just 22 runs off 57 deliveries, the lowest ever by a Zimbabwean bowler taking five wickets in a Test. This feat surpassed the legendary Heath Streak’s record of 5/27 from 24 years ago.
In the aftermath of his achievement, Evans stated, “Heath was a Zimbabwe cricket legend, so to better his figures makes my achievement all the more special.”
Afghanistan's Struggles
The Afghan team faced a massive collapse after a promising start at 77/2, ultimately being bowled out for just 127 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (37) and Abdul Malik (30) were the only batters to find rhythm before the batting order crumbled.
Sustaining Zimbabwe's Lead
Zimbabwe capitalized on the opportunity, ending the day at 130/2 with Ben Curran and Nick Welch leading the charge. Curran scored an unbeaten 52, while Welch contributed 49 runs. This partnership marks a crucial moment for the team as they seek to break their streak of only one Test win from the past eight matches.
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs |
|---|
| Afghanistan | 127 | 10 | 32.3 |
| Zimbabwe | 130 | 2 | 38 |
As Zimbabwe continues their quest for victory, they will face Afghanistan again in three T20 internationals on October 29, 31, and November 2.