AFG vs ZIM 1st Test Live Commentary - Sharjah (05 November 2026)

This is flighted up wide of the off stump, Taylor leans across and taps the ball on its head, angling it between silly point and first slip.

Tossed up at the stumps, drifting in a bit, but Brendan Taylor stays solid in defence.

Zia goes wider on the crease this time, and angles a round-arm delivery into the off stump. Taylor watchfully blocks.

A bit fuller and on off, Taylor lunges to defend.

No run, that is defended solidly off the front foot.

No run.

Saleem continues to test Curran with the short ball. This is around the left shoulder. Curran drops his wrists and sways away.

This is on a back of a length, on off. Curran stays rooted to the crease and has a fiddle at the ball. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads before the ball dribbles towards point.

Into the deck, getting it high around the bicep, on off. Curran rises with the bounce and drops it in front of him.

Indecision! Saleem bends his back and digs it in short, over the right shoulder. Curran thinks about going for the pull but the ball keeps climbing and he eventually bails out of the shot. Saleem walks up and has a word or two with the batter but Ben does not respond.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! That is as good as it gets from Mohammad Saleem, and he thoroughly deserves this wicket, bowling his heart out in energy-sapping conditions. After a barrage of short balls, Saleem comes up with the yorker and gets it spot on, right at the base of the off stump. Curran is perhaps expecting another short ball and is hanging back in the crease. He is late to get his bat down and hears the death rattle. Saleem lets out a big roar, and he is thrilled to bits. End of a 65-run stand. Zimbabwe are now 125/2.

What a ball to receive first up. Angled in before straightening off the deck at pace, on a back of a length. Bennett defends inside the line and is beaten all ends up.

Flighted up, on middle. Taylor blocks it out by getting forward.

Missed out! A bit of a drag down, on off and middle. Taylor rocks back to force it through the off side but picks out the man at cover.

Very full, on off. Brendan digs it out to long off and gets to the other end.

Around off, full in length. Ben leans forward and angles the bat face to drive to the right of mid off for a single.

Sliding on with the arm, full and at the stumps. Taylor shimmies down the track and clips it to mid-wicket.

SIX! Clean as a whistle. Zia-ur-Rehman tosses it up but ends up dishing it out right in the slot. Taylor needs no second invitation as he collapses his back knee and clobbers it over wide long on for half a dozen.

Bowled on a back of a length, on middle and leg. Curran gets on his toes and drops it beside the strip on the leg side. Saleem is quick to his left on his follow-through to prevent the single.

Dug in short, over middle. Easily ducked under by Ben.

Bangs it in short again, sailing over the right shoulder as Curran ducks under it.

Good stop! After pushing the batter back with the short ball, Saleem goes fuller, on off. Curran's feet go nowhere as he pushes it wide of cover. There is no way through, though, as Hashmatullah Shahidi flings himself to his right to make the stop.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Lucky escape for Ben Curran. A well-directed short ball, aimed at the ribs. Curran can neither lean inside the line quickly nor drop his wrists. Ends up fending at the ball and it pops up off his gloves behind the wicket on the leg side. The keeper, Ikram Alikhil charges in but the ball drops well in front of him.

Another bumper, over middle and leg. Curran ducks inside the line. Saleem chirps at the batter before walking back.

Floated up, on off. Curran pats it back to the bowler.

Dropped short, on middle, Curran stays back to defend.

A bit fuller, on middle. Curran taps it to the left of the bowler.

Flatter and shorter, on off. Curran stays beside the line and plays the late dab past the slip fielder for a single.

Full and on off. Taylor pushes it down the deck.

Floated up, on off. Taylor leans across and pushes it to cover.

Saleem bashes the deck, getting the ball to nibble away slightly, on a back of a length, on off. Curran stands tall to block it out.

Fuller in length but not close enough to make the batter play. That is left alone for the keeper to collect.

Hurls it on a good length, outside the off stump. Curran goes searching for the ball with his hands as he punches it to cover. Saleem won't mind Ben playing away from his body.

In the channel, on a good length. Ben offers no shot.

Into the surface, outside off. Curran sets himself up on the back foot for the pull but the ball is not all that short and ends up chopping it down towards mid on.

On a length, angled into the pads. Ben helps it down to deep fine leg and keeps the strike with a single.

Flighted up, on middle. Taylor presents the full face of the bat and pushes it to the left of the bowler.

SIX! Launched down the ground! Floated up, on off, not all that full. Taylor takes a step towards the pitch of the ball and just extends his hands into the lofted hit. Smokes it back over the bowler's head for the first six of the game. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

FOUR! Class written all over it. Zia-ur-Rehman gives more air this time but this does not turn and goes on with the arm, full and on middle. Taylor gives himself a bit of room to be able to get his hands through the line of the ball. Opens up the front hip and goes inside out over cover to pick up a boundary.

Slanting in at the stumps, full in length. Taylor lunges for the block.

Darted in on a length, on middle. Taylor keeps it out off the front foot.

Slows it down and gives it a bit of air, full and on off. Brendan gets forward to defend.

Starts from over the wicket and angles the ball into the pads, on a back of a length. Taylor stays back and works it behind square leg for a single.

From around the wicket for the left-hander, nice and full, at the sticks. Curran eases the drive to mid on.

Bowled by going wide on the crease, on a good length, around off. It nips back in but stays away from the off pole as Curran makes the leave.

On a nagging length, in the channel just outside the off stump. Ben shoulders arms.

Saleem makes the batter play this time, hitting the top of off. Ben stabs it down with a straight bat.

This goes away off the seam, a bit fuller, on off. Curran plays it late and right under his eyes as he dabs it down towards backward point.

Fired in at the off stump, on a good length. Ben presses forward to block it out.

Slightly slower and fuller, on middle. Curran dead-bats it with the bat close to the front pad.

Even slower, getting the ball to drop on the batter. Curran defends off the inside half as the ball trickles to short leg.

Not much turn, on a length, on off. Curran covers the line and taps it down the strip.

Loopy ball, a bit too full, on middle. Curran brings his wrists into play and flicks it to mid-wicket.

The length is pulled back, slow turn off the deck, on middle. Curran uses the depth of the crease and stabs it down the track. That will be Lunch on Day 1.

Really full, on off. Taylor jams it out beside the strip on the leg side.

Turning away, on a length, outside off. Taylor is not interested in playing at that.

Flatter and on a good length, quicker through the air. Taylor sinks to a knee and gets the sweep away to the right of deep backward square leg for a brace.

Pushes the length up, attacking the front pad. Taylor lunges for the block.

Another ball darted in towards the front pad. Taylor presents a straight bat to keep it out.

A bit slower, full and on off. Brendan lunges across to defend.

Attacking the front pad, there is a bit of lift off the deck, but Taylor adjusts well. He takes the bottom hand off the bat handle as he defends.

Very full, speared in at the pads. Taylor crouches, and with the angle, he sweeps it behind square leg. Ziaur Rahman runs to his right in the deep and tidies up. Two runs taken. The 100 is up for Zimbabwe.

Looped up, on off. Taylor gets forward and pushes it wide of mid to rotate the strike.

Shorter and turning down leg. Curran fails to help it away. A good take by Ikram Alikhil by moving to his right.

Flighted up, on off. Curran gets his hands through the line of the ball and cracks the drive but picks out the fielder at cover.

Drags the length back but the line is a little too straight, at the hips. Curran drops it down in front of short leg. The short leg fielder keeps Ben honest with a sharp stop to his left.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Qais tosses it up, on middle, it is a bit too full. Taylor takes a step towards the pitch of the ball and presents the full face of the blade. With a high elbow and clean extension of the arms, Brendan lofts it back over the bowler's head.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. The length stays full but Qais drifts onto the pads this time. Taylor gets down on a knee and cleverly paddles it through deep fine leg for four more.

Keeps it full, on off. Taylor works it wide of cover and crosses over.

Rapped on the pads! A prolonged appeal for LBW, but it is turned down. There seemed to be an inside edge, and the replays confirm the same. Not all that short, a hint of turn, on middle. Curran rocks back to a ball he was better off being forward to. Squeezes out an inside edge onto the pads.

Around leg, Curran turns it off the pads to square leg.

Full and fast, on middle. Curran clips it to mid-wicket.

Flighted up, on off. Curran waits for the ball to drop and plays the drive against the spin, threading it between cover and mid off. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence and it is hauled in. Two runs taken. The umpire has a quiet word with Curran for running in the danger area.

Pushed through, on a good length, on middle. Curran drops it beside the strip on the leg side.

Shorter and on midle. Curran nudges it to mid-wicket.

Speared in very full, on middle. Ben jams it out to the left of the bowler.

And again! Curran once again runs through the danger area. Floated up, on off, overpitched. Ben leans into the drive and strokes it through covers. The ball slows down in the outfield and the batters pick up a couple.

Slower and shorter, on off. Ben hangs back to defend.

A bit of a drag down by Qais, turning back in, wide on off. Curran waits for the ball on the back foot and plays the late dab past the slip fielder for a couple of runs.

Too full, down leg. Curran takes the risk of playing the paddle with the angle despite there being a leg slip. He misses out, though.

Fired in full, on middle and leg. Ben squeezes it out to mid on.

FOUR! Easily done. Qais continues to struggle with his lines and lengths. Too full, down leg. Curran crouches and takes it on the full to sweep it down to the deep fine leg fence.

Qais switches to over the wicket and angles it across off, on a length. Curran gets forward and pushes it wide of cover for a single.

At the stumps, full in length, that is defended solidly off the front foot.

Sliding on with the arm, full and on middle. Taylor keeps it out with a straight bat.

Looped up, full and on middle and leg. Taylor shimmies down the track and drives it to mid on. A bit of yes and no before the batters decide not to run.

Drags the length back a bit, on off. Taylor gets a good stride in and stabs it down with the bat close to the front pad.

Slows it down, it is a flighted delivery, on middle. Taylor presses forward and pushes it in front of a deep mid off for a single.

This keeps straight, full and on off. Curran plays a wristy drive to the left of the bowler.

Gives the ball a bit of air, full and around off. Ben leans across and works it in front of mid on for one.

Really full, on off and middle. Taylor gets his bat down and digs it out.

Similar line and length to the previous ball. Brendan stabs it down on the off side.

Pushed through on the pads, on a length. Taylor misses out on the tickle. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads behind square leg.

Slightly short, spinning back a bit, on middle. Curran backs away a touch and punches it in front of mid off for a run.

Drifting in at the pads, a lot fuller. Taylor brings his bat out in front for the block.

Offers flight and serves it full and wide on off. Taylor springs onto the front foot and extends his hands to crack the drive past cover. The ball slows down in the outfield and there was a second run on offer but Curran was not interested.

FOUR! More of a drag, but Taylor will take it. Flighted delivery, on off. Taylor dances down the track and looks to go back over the bowler's head. He is not entirely to the pitch of the ball, and the bat turns in his hand. Mishits the lofted hit off the inner half over wide mid on for a four.

Speared in full, on middle and leg. Taylor wrists it to mid-wicket.

At the sticks. Taylor pushes it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Wrong line and punished. Zia-ur-Rehman darts in a full ball at the pads. Easy pickings for Taylor, who gets low and, with the angle, paddles it down to the deep fine leg fence for the second four of the over.

A bit of air given, better line and length, full and on off. Taylor knocks it wide of mid off and gets to the other end.

Loopy ball, on off. Curran takes it on the full and firms the drive to mid off with a straight bat.

Flatter one, relatively full and just outside off. Curran blocks it off.

Fuller now, in and around off, and a bit quicker too. Another solid front-foot block by Curran.

Ahmad drags the length back and bowls it around leg stump. Curran tries to rock back and pull it fine, but it isn't all that short either and Curran ends up wearing it on the outside half of the front pad.

Tossed up at the stumps, Curran leans on to block.

Qais gets away with one here. Short and wide, angled across the left-hander. Curran stays put, just extends his arms and cuts it to cover-point.

A flatter delivery to end the over. Just outside off and punched off the back foot to cover. Maiden over from Qais Ahmad as well.

Looped up around off, trying to get it over the batter's eyeline. Ben Curran watchfully blocks it off.

Tossed up, full and on off. Curran drives it into the deck and straight back to the bowler.

Similar delivery to the last one, albeit a bit straighter and this time, Curran jams the drive to the left of the bowler.

Good length around off, Curran stays back and plays a late dab towards the gully region and picks up a single.

Floated up, fuller and drifted into the front pad. Taylor stays leg side of the ball and smothers it off the inside edge to mid-wicket.

A flighted delivery to end the over. This is pitched wide of the off stump and Taylor plays a flowing drive but finds the fielder at extra cover.

Tossed-up delivery, outside off. Kaia leans on, shows the full face of the bat and punches it down to long off for a single.

Nagging length, held back a bit and landing it around off and middle. Curran gets halfway forward and keeps it out.

Flatter and on the pads, turned away behind square leg for a single by Curran.

OUT! CAUGHT! Did that come off the back of the blade? It sure did, and Innocent Kaia can consider himself a tad unlucky, but he has to walk back here. Qais Ahmad just drifts a fuller ball down the leg side. Kaia sits down for the sweep but misses, and the ball goes off his pads, but it then catches the back of the bat and lobs up to first slip, where Sediqullah Atal takes a simple catch, and just like that, the 60-run opening stand is broken.

FOUR BYES! That's wayward from Qais. Bowled into the pitch but angled a long way down the leg side. No chance for the keeper and the ball trickles away into the fine leg fence.

Half a shout for LBW, but that's going down leg. Pushed through quicker and fuller on middle, seemed like the wrong'un. Brendan Taylor leans on to block, but the ball skids past the inside edge and catches Taylor on the front pad.

Flighted delivery on off stump, Kaia blocks it off.

Tossed up, fuller and just outside off. Kaia is drawn forward and there's a bit of turn, which means that Kaia ends up blocking it more off the outside edge.

Shorter and angled into the batter. Innocent Kaia presses back and turns it down behind square leg for a single.

Nice and full, drifting it into the front pad. Curran leans on and smothers it to mid on.

On a nagging length, floated up outside the line of off stump, and Curran stays solid in defence.

Much fuller this time, landing it on off and middle, and Curran turns it to mid-wicket.

Qais begins with a loosener, as he serves a full toss on off stump. Kaia pushes it down to long off and collects a single.

Cheekily done by Ben. Flatter and down leg, Curran shuffles around to the off side and laps it down to fine leg. Hashmatullah Shahidi from leg gully chases it down and keeps it to two runs.

Much better from Ahmad. A touch fuller on off, trying to turn it back in. Curran blocks it off.

Curran tries to be cheeky again, and nearly gets caught behind. Quicker delivery from Ahmad, turning it down leg. Curran moves inside the line to lap it fine but gets a bit of an edge that goes straight in and out of the keeper's gloves. Very harsh to even call that a dropped catch.

Tossed up on middle, turning it back in. Curran blocks it off.

Slightly fuller on middle and leg, Ben Curran picks it up and flicks it aerially towards a deepish mid-wicket. No single taken.

Tossed up outside off, drifting in a bit. Curran leans on and drives against the turn, getting it wide of extra cover for an easy single.

Nicely flighted, landing it on off and middle. Kaia leans on and drives it to mid off.

Flighted again, not all that full and on off stump. Kaia presses forward a bit to defend.

The length is pulled back now, and Kaia rocks back to punch it straight towards Rahmat Shah at short extra cover.

Tossed up outside off, Kaia lunges across and strokes it to the right of Rahmat Shah at short extra cover this time for a single.

Ooh, that's nicely bowled. Flighted up on a length, and Zia gets this one to dip and turn a bit. Ben Curran lunges to defend but doesn't reach the pitch of the ball and gets an inside edge onto the back pad.

Dug in a bit short over middle, Curran leans back and smacks the pull over mid-wicket, but the ball plugs in the outfield, and it will only be a brace.

No run there! Full of a good length, in and around off. Curran stays back and bunts it down in front of extra cover, thinking about the single, but the fielder is quick to pounce on it.

Wider on the crease, very full and trying to angle it back in from outside off. It is a bit too wide to begin with and Curran just shoulders arms.

A slight adjustment from Zia, getting the line closer to the off stump, and the false shot is drawn. Curran looks to cover drive but miscues it off the inside half of the blade toward mid-wicket.

Back of a length, just outside off. Ben Curran stands tall and punches it sweetly to deep cover for a single.

FOUR! Oh, that is such a pleasing stroke from Kaia. Banged in short and around off, Kaia swivels across to the off side, gets on top of the bounce and controls the pull brilliantly, nailing it to the left of fine leg for a boundary. 50 up for Zimbabwe as well.

On the shorter side, spinning back a bit, on middle. Ben is solid in defense.

Fuller in length, on off. Curran knocks it to mid off.

Tossed up now, on off. Curran leans forward to defend.

More air given, full and on off, not much turn. Curran gets a good stride in and blocks it out.

Fractionally short, on middle and leg. Curran clips it with the turn behind square leg and crosses over.

From around the wicket for the right-hander, a hint of turn, fuller and on off. Kaia gets forward to defend.

Oh, that could have been trouble for Ben Curran. Ziaur Rahman angles in a full ball, on middle. Kaia presents the full face of the bat and eases the drive down the deck. Curran was backing up too far but luckily for him, Rahman could not make any contact with the ball or else he was gone.

Hits the deck hard and gets the ball to nip away off the deck. Kaia stays back to keep it out but the ball kicks up a bit to catch the shoulder of the bat. It drops wide of cover and the batters cross for one.

Out comes the short ball by Rahman, on off. Ben Curran ducks under it.

Into the deck, on middle. Curran swivels on the back foot and pulls it behind squareo the right of deep fine leg for a single.

FOUR! Untidy in the field. Rahman slams it into the deck, on off. Kaia gets the ball at a good height and is quick to swivel and pull it wide of deep square leg. Qais Ahmad sprints to his left and slides but overruns the ball as it sneaks past his right hand and trickles into the fence.

FOUR! Off the edge. In and around the off pole, on a back of a length, nibbling away ever so slightly. Kaia does well not to push at the ball with hard hands. The outside edge goes down and a bit of a bad bounce results in it going past the sprawling dive of the second slip fielder.

Begins from over the wicket with a flighted delivery, slow turn off the deck, on middle and leg. Curran drops it in front of short leg.

Around the off stump, on a good length. Curran angles it wide of point and looks at the partner. A bit of hesitation but they eventually make it for a single.

Floated up, on middle. Innocent Kaia lunges for the block.

Drags the length back a bit, on middle. Innocent hangs back to defend.

Slows it down and offers flight, on middle. Innocent is drawn forward as he defends with the bat close to the front pad.

Pushed through, on a good length, on middle and leg. Kaia turns it off the back foot through square leg and retains the strike with a single.

Bowled by going wide on the crease, going on with the angle, on top of off. Curran taps it with a straight bat to the left of the bowler.

A bit fuller, in the channel. Curran watches the ball closely and shoulders arms. Saleem stares at the batter before walking back to his mark.

FOUR! Up and over! Saleem looks to bang it into the deck and gets it high around the shoulder, around off. Curran stands tall on his toes and is able to get under the ball before flaying it over the slip cordon for a four.

Pushes the length up, on off. Ben is rooted to the crease as he pushes it to mid off.

Good running! Saleem goes wide on the crease and attacks the stumps with a length ball. Curran brings his bat out in front and defends it off the inner half of the bat. The batters pinch in a quick single as the ball rolls in front of mid-wicket.

Saleem dishes out a bumper, but it is slightly down leg. It does not trouble Kaia, who ducks under it.

Goes past the bat! In the channel, seaming away a touch off a back of a length. Kaia presses up on his toes and has a feel for the delivery before opting to withdraw his bat but it is too late by then. He is lucky not to have nicked it behind.

Hits the top of off, does Zia-ur-Rehman. Kaia is squared up on the back foot as the ball straightens off the deck but manages to dab it down on the off side.

A little too straight, angled in at the hips. Kaia gets on top of the bounce and nudges it to mid-wicket with soft hands.

Serves it on a back of a length but not close enough to make the batter play. Innocent hops across the stumps and makes a comfortable leave.

Zia-ur-Rehman goes full and gets the ball to curve away in the air. It is a bit wide and Kaia goes after it, away from his body. He knocks it towards the man at a wide mid off.

FOUR! Nicely done. Not all that short and not too wide either. Kaia picks up the length early and arches back. He gets on his toes to get on top of the bounce and cuts it past point for a boundary.

DROPPED! After doing all the hard work, Ziaur Rahman should have taken the catch. Innocent Kaia gets a reprieve. A well-directed short ball, rising up sharply around the left shoulder to catch Kaia by surprise. Innocent ends up hooking it half-heartedly whilst looking to sway inside the line of the ball. It flies down to deep fine leg off the top edge. Ziaur Rahman moves to his right and dives, but the ball hits his palm and drops to the ground. They cross.

FOUR! Not in control, but safe. A sharp bumper around the left shoulder. Curran gets his hands high to control the pull, but the ball gets big on him. It catches the top edge and goes behind, well fine of the man at deep fine leg for a boundary.

Pushed across the off stump, on a good length. Curran shoulders arms to let that one through.

Fuller in length, slanting away from the off stump, that is left alone for the keeper to collect.

From around the wicket now, dug in short, over off. Curran pivots on the back foot and is able to ride the bounce. Plays a controlled pull wide of square leg for a couple of runs.

In and around the off stump, bowled on a good length. Curran plays it right under his eyes as he drops it in front of cover.

Length ball on middle and off, swings away nicely from the left-hander, and Curran makes a good leave too.

Similar delivery to the last one, albeit a touch fuller and there's not much swing on this one, just angles past the left-hander's off stump. Curran shoulders arms.

Pitched fuller and slipping it down the leg side. Curran fails to flick it away.

Zia changes the angle, coming from around the wicket to the left-hander. This is a tad short and slanted into the batter, Curran tucks it down to deep backward square leg for a single.

Good length, a tad wide of the off stump, and going straight on. Left alone by Kaia.

An inswinger now, a bit fuller, and this one comes back in sharply. Kaia manages to get the front leg out of the way and flicks it away to the left of deep backward square leg for a single.

An aggressive short ball, around head height, but the line is a bit wayward as this one drifts down the leg side. Curran just moves away from the line of the ball.

Full of a good length, in and around off. Curran stays put and plays it with a slightly horizontal bat and gently in front of covers for a quick single.

Beautifully driven, but again, the outfield doesn't allow the ball to just run away to the fence. Pitched up around off, coming back in, Kaia leans on and punches it to the right of Hashmatullah Shahidi at mid off for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Even the sluggish outfield can't stop that! A drag-down by Saleem, over middle and leg. Kaia stands tall and pulls it hard to the left of deep backward square leg for the first boundary of the game.

Better length from Saleem. Full of a good length, on off stump, and Kaia defends it off the front foot.

That's well bowled. Good length on off and middle, and the ball jags back in sharply off the deck. Kaia stays watchful and solidly blocks it off.

An outswinger now, pitched full and on the fifth-stump line, just angling away a bit. Kaia shoulders arms.

Hard length, even wider this time and carrying through nicely to the keeper. Kaia leaves it alone.

Pitched up wide of the off stump, almost hugging the tramline and shaping away. Innocent Kaia lets it through to the keeper.

A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire remains unmoved. Prodigious movement on that one, but there seemed to be two noises. Full and darted into the stumps from wider on the crease. Kaia's head falls over a bit to the off side as he tries to flick it away and the ball shoots past the inside edge to strike him on the pads. Probably not an inside edge, but rather going down leg.

Back of a length, angled in towards middle, and Kaia tucks it down to mid-wicket.

Spilled down the leg side, but that's the first maiden of the Test. On a fullish length, looking to angle it into the pads, but this one goes a fair bit down the leg side.

Fractionally short on leg, dabbed down 'round the corner on the leg side for a single by Curran.

Ooh, too high again? Seems like it. Saleem lands this one on a perfect length, and it is the nip-backer that catches the batter by surprise. The ball lands on middle and darts back in, beating the inside edge of Kaia's willow and thudding into the back leg. There's a huge appeal, but the umpire turns it down.

Full of a good length, wide of the off stump and angling away a wee bit. Left alone by Kaia.

Full and straight, Saleem goes wide on the crease to angle the ball into the front pad. Kaia pushes it out to mid on.

On the fuller side again, but not all that full, and in that corridor of uncertainty. Kaia gets forward to block but gets an inside edge toward mid-wicket.

A bit of a fumble, and after some hesitation, the batters do pick up the single. Good length outside off, Kaia leans across and taps it down to backward point, where the fielder gets a bad bounce and parries the ball behind for a single.

Half an appeal for LBW right away, but it's been turned down. Probably going over the stumps. Excellent start from Zia, though. Pitched up on middle, getting the ball to swing back into the left-hander. Ben Curran prods ahead to defend but is beaten past the inside edge and wears it high on the pads.

Bashed into the deck, short of a good length and angled back into the hips. Curran fails to get it away.

That in-between length now, just angled across the off stump. Curran plays it right under the eyes, and gently to the right of the bowler.

Hard length, on middle and leg, angling back in a bit. Curran nudges it down in front of mid-wicket and looks for a single, but won't get it.

Nicely played and well run as well. Very full and on middle, swinging away from the left-hander. Curran hangs back before easing it wide of mid off for a quick single. 

Lovely shot from Kaia, but the outfield seems a bit slow. Full and sliding into the legs, flicked off the pads through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Saleem begins with a full ball, pitching it fairly wide of the off stump, and there's a hint of away movement as well. Innocent Kaia leaves it alone.

Much better line, but Kaia pinches a quick single to get the scoreboard ticking. Hard length, around the top of off. Kaia presses back and just bunts it in front of covers before scampering through for a run.

Saleem hits a hard length again, bowling it around the pads. Ben Curran misses the flick off the hips and the ball goes off his pads to leg gully, and a leg bye is taken.

Full and in the channel, sliding straight on. Kaia makes an assured leave.

On a good length, slightly wide of the off stump, and carrying through nicely to the keeper. Kaia makes another leave.

On the money! Just a smidge fuller and darting back in towards the off pole. Innocent Kaia stays watchful and leans forward to make the block. Zimbabwe are 2/0 after the first over.