SHARJAH (The Thursday Times) — Naseer Khan Maroofkhil took seven wickets on his Test debut for Afghanistan, but a century from Brendan Taylor and a sharp spell from Blessing Muzarabani left Zimbabwe on top after the second day of the second Test at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The 20-year-old spinner finished with 7-151 from 44 overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 339 in 114.5 overs. In reply, Afghanistan were 159-6 at stumps, still 180 runs behind, with Afsar Zazai unbeaten on 33 and Maroofkhil on three.
The first Test of the two-match series ended in a draw, so the result in Sharjah will decide it. Afghanistan swept the three-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe 3-0 earlier this month.
A debut haul
Zimbabwe had looked set for a big total on the first day. Openers Innocent Kaia and Ben Curran put on a solid stand, and the visitors were 200-1 before Kaia fell for 96, four short of a century. His dismissal set off a slide to 212-4, with Maroofkhil doing most of the damage, and Zimbabwe closed the day on 250-5.
Taylor, unbeaten on 96 overnight, reached his eighth Test century on Saturday, his second of the series. He made 119 off 217 balls, with 14 fours and a six, before Maroofkhil removed him. Zimbabwe lost their last nine wickets for 139 runs, though Brad Evans added a useful unbeaten 32 off 50 balls with the tail.
Ziaur Rahman took two wickets and Yamin Ahmadzai one. Reports said Maroofkhil’s seven matched the most wickets taken by an Afghanistan bowler in an innings on Test debut, and one more would have put him level with the best haul by any bowler in a debut innings.
Afghanistan stumble in reply
Afghanistan made a shaky start, losing openers Sediqullah Atal for one and Abdul Malik for 18 inside 10 overs with 27 on the board. Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmanullah steadied the innings with a third-wicket stand of 46 before Rahmanullah fell to Vincent Masekesa for a 44-ball 34, the top score so far.
Shahidi made 30 before Afghanistan lost wickets at regular intervals to slide to 154-6. Zazai held firm and will resume on the third day on Sunday alongside Maroofkhil, who bats at No. 8.
Muzarabani was the pick of Zimbabwe’s attack with 3-31 from 13 overs. Masekesa took two wickets and Evans one.
