Image Source : @ICC Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams, Donald Tiripano
Skipper Sean Williams’s unbeaten 106 and his unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 124 with Donald Tiripano (63 batting) helped Zimbabwe avert an innings defeat towards Afghanistan and take the second Test into the fifth day right here on the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Saturday. Zimbabwe have been eight runs forward of hosts Afghanistan with 266/7 wickets at stumps.
Zimbabwe, who have been pressured to observe on, seemed down and out at 142 for seven wickets. However, Williams and Tiripano defied the Afghans for 42.4 overs.
Leg-spinner Rashid Khan picked 5 wickets for 105, however failed to seek out help from the opposite bowlers.
Resuming the fourth day at 24 with out loss of their second innings, Zimbabwe misplaced a few fast wickets at 44 and 46 earlier than Williams and Tarisai Musakanda (15) added 55 runs for the third wicket with the left-handed batsman being the dominant companions.
The 34-year-old Williams witnessed common fall of wickets as his workforce’s batsmen did not put up any resistance.
Sikandar Raza, the top-scorer from first innings, too did not get going and was dismissed by Rashid for 22.
Williams hit 9 fours and a six in his 190-ball keep. During his 164-ball keep Tiripano hit 11 boundaries.
Zimbabwe had made 287 within the first innings, with Rashid choosing 4 for 138. The leg-spinner who’s enjoying his fifth Test match has an opportunity to realize his second 10-wicket haul of his profession. He simply wants yet another wicket for that feat.
Zimbabwe had gained the primary Test by 10 wickets.
Brief scores: Afghanistan: 545/4 declared; Zimbabwe: 287 all out and 266/7 wkts (S Williams batting 106, D tiripano 63 batting, R. Khan 5/105)
