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Rahmat Shahthe magisterial century anchored Afghanistanof the innings and turned the tide decisively in their favor on Day 3 of the ongoing Test match against Zimbabwe. Starting the day in a precarious position at 46/3, Afghanistan faced immense pressure from a disciplined Zimbabwe bowling attack. However, Rahmat showed extraordinary composure and technical prowess, navigating the challenges with remarkable precision.
His unbeaten innings of 139 runs was not just a personal milestone but a testament to his ability to deliver under pressure. Backed by crucial partnerships, Rahmat ensured that Afghanistan transformed a shaky start into a dominant lead. Despite moments of brilliance with the ball, Zimbabwe could not sustain their momentum as Afghanistan’s batsmen settled down for the day. By stumps, Afghanistan had tightened their grip on the match with a 205-run lead, leaving Zimbabwe with a daunting task in the last innings.
Day three began with Afghanistan on the back foot, precariously placed at 46/3 and behind Zimbabwe’s first innings score. Zimbabwe’s pace attack, led by Blessing of Muzarabani i Ricard boatcontinued to extract movement from the surface, making life difficult for the Afghan batsmen in the morning session. The duo fired with discipline, forcing Afghanistan to adopt a cautious approach to avoid further mishaps. Shahidullah he partnered Rahmat to steady the innings, carefully considering the early threat.
However, Zimbabwe’s persistence paid off when Shahidullah fell to Muzarabani, caught by We wish you good health. At 69/5, Afghanistan were in a fragile position but Rahmat’s determination was evident as he began to rebuild the innings with calculated shot selection. By lunch, Afghanistan had reached 125/5, thanks to Rahmat’s unflinching approach, which provided some hope of a recovery.
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Rahmat Shah’s century lays foundations for Afghanistan
Rahmat was the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s resurgence, playing an innings that will be remembered for its sheer courage and elegance. Faced with relentless pressure from Zimbabwe’s bowlers, Rahmat initially adopted a defensive approach, ensuring no more wickets fell during his time at the crease. Its association with Ismat Alam proved crucial as the duo added 132 runs for the eight wickets, steadying the innings and frustrating the opposition.
Rahmat’s shot selection was impeccable; he balanced solid defense with calculated aggression, punishing anything that went too far downfield or out. His century was a moment of pure class, arrived with a classy touch at square leg, which brought the entire Afghan dressing room to its feet in applause. The knock, which lasted nearly five hours and featured 14 boundaries, epitomized resilience and showed his ability to adapt to the demands of Test cricket. Even after reaching the milestone, Rahmat continued to pile on the runs, ensuring that Afghanistan moved into a position of strength.
Zimbabwean bowling falters in final session
As the day wore on, Zimbabwe’s bowlers seemed to lose their earlier discipline and intensity, allowing Afghanistan to capitalize in the final session. Although Rahmat fell late in the day to Muzarabani, his dismissal did little to halt Afghanistan’s progress. The lower middle order, led by Rashid Khan and Alam, contributed vital runs, further frustrating Zimbabwe. Alam, in particular, counter-attacked effectively, finding boundaries with ease and making sure the score kept going over.
Zimbabwe had moments of success, with Muzarabani claiming key wickets and Ngarava keeping things tight, but they lacked the consistency needed to bundle Afghanistan on the cheap. When the stumps were called because of the rain, Afghanistan had amassed 291/7securing a major advantage that placed them firmly in control. With the pitch beginning to show signs of wear and tear, Zimbabwe now face an uphill battle to save the match, with their batsmen having to negotiate a challenging Day 4 against an Afghan bowling attack.
Rain forced first stumps on Day 3 in Bulawayo as AfghanAtalan reached 291/7, leading by 205 runs.
Tomorrow morning, the game will start 30 minutes earlier at 12:00 (AFT). 👍#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/aeNwpZWVtt
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 4, 2025
