Zimbabwe secured a historic victory against Afghanistan in their one-off Test match at the Harare Sports Club. It was Richard Ngarava's fiery fifer which powered Zimbabwe to crushing win by an innings and 73 runs, which is their biggest victory in Tests by runs. With this Zimbabwe ended a 24-year wait as it was their third innings win in their Test history and their first since accomplishing the feat against Bangladesh in Bulawayo back in 2001. The win was comprehensive, built upon a foundation of strong batting and accurate bowling, which culminated in Afghanistan's dramatic collapse on the third day.
Zimbabwe crush Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs in one-off Test
The foundation for the victory was laid in Zimbabwe's sole batting innings, where they posted a formidable total of 359. Leading the charge was Ben Curran, who anchored the innings with a patient and composed 121 from 256 deliveries, including 15 boundaries. Vital supporting roles were played by Sikandar Raza, who contributed 65, and Nick Welch (49). Further down the order, crucial runs from Brendan Taylor (32) and an unbeaten 35 from Brad Evans bolstered the total, placing immense pressure on the visiting Afghan side.
In response, Afghanistan's batting lineup faltered, managing only 127 in their first innings. Only Rahmanullah Gurbaz (37) and Abdul Malik (30) provided any meaningful resistance against the host's relentless attack. Zimbabwe's bowlers capitalized on this fragility, led by a stellar performance from Brad Evans, who claimed five wickets for just 22 runs. Blessing Muzarabani provided excellent support, taking three wickets for 47 runs, as the pair systematically dismantled the visiting team's batting order.
Richard Ngarava's sizzling fifer sinks Afghanistan
Zimbabwe's bowlers wrapped up the match with clinical precision on the third day. Afghanistan's second innings began with some promise, particularly with Ibrahim Zadran looking settled on 42. However, the tide quickly turned once Richard Ngarava found his rhythm. The left-arm pacer proved to be the match-winner, claiming a magnificent 5/37 and triggering a collapse that saw Afghanistan tumble from 43/2 to being all out for 159.
The sheer dominance of Zimbabwe's attack became clear on Day 3 itself, where Afghanistan lost nine wickets for only 116 runs. While there was short-lived resistance from Bahir Shah (32) and Afsar Zazai (18), it was not enough to stabilize the innings. Ngarava was perfectly supported by the pace duo of Muzarabani (3/48) and Tanaka Chivanga (2/40), leaving the Afghanistan batting lineup fully exposed and unable to cope with the relentless pressure.