Rehmat Shah‘s master anchored the century Afghanistan‘s innings and decisively turned the tide in his favor on Day 3 of the ongoing Test match. Zimbabwe. Starting the day at 46/3 in a precarious position, the Afghanistan order faced immense pressure from the Zimbabwean bowling attack. However, Rehmat displayed extraordinary composure and technical prowess, handling challenges with remarkable precision.
His unbeaten knock of 139 runs was not only a personal milestone but also a testament to his ability to perform under pressure. Backed by significant partnerships, Rahmat ensured that Afghanistan turned a shaky start into a commanding leader. Despite some bright moments with the ball, Zimbabwe were unable to maintain their momentum as Afghanistan’s batting strengthened throughout the day. According to stumps, Afghanistan tightened their grip on the match with a commanding lead of 205 runs, leaving Zimbabwe with a tough task in the final innings.
The third day began with Afghanistan on the back foot, precariously placed at 46/3 and behind Zimbabwe’s first innings score. Led by Zimbabwe’s fast attack Blessed Muzarabani and Richard ShippIn the morning session, he continued to take the action off the surface by making life difficult for the Afghan batsmen. The duo played with discipline and forced Afghanistan to take a cautious approach to avoid further setbacks. Shahidullah he collaborated with Rahmat to stabilize the shots, carefully considering the first threat.
However, Zimbabwe’s persistence paid off with Shahidullah falling to Muzarabani. 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 reached 125/5, with Rahmat’s unwavering focus giving a glimmer of hope for a recovery.
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Rehmat Shah’s century anchors Afghanistan
Rahmat was the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s revival, playing an innings that will be remembered for its transparency and elegance. Faced with relentless pressure from Zimbabwe’s bowlers, Rahmat was initially directed to the defense, making sure no more wickets fell during his time at the crease. partnership with Ismet Alam the duo added 132 runs for eight wickets to steady the innings and frustrate the opposition.
Rehmat’s shot selection was impeccable; he balanced solid defense with calculated aggression, punishing anything excessive or wide. His century was a moment of pure class, arriving in a classy flick that 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 demonstrated his ability to adapt to the demands of Test cricket. Even after reaching the milestone, Rahmat continued to score runs and ensured that Afghanistan moved into a position of strength.
Zimbabwe’s bowling is faltering in the final session
As the day wore on, Zimbabwe’s bowlers seemed to have lost their earlier discipline and intensity, which allowed Afghanistan to take advantage in the final session. Although Rahmat fell to Muzarabani late in the day, his dismissal failed to halt Afghanistan’s progress. Led lower middle order Rashid Khan and Alam contributed vital runs which further frustrated Zimbabwe. Alam in particular counter-attacked effectively, finding the boundaries with ease and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Zimbabwe had their moments of success, with Muzarabani claiming key wickets and Ngarava keeping things tight, but they lacked the consistency needed to pack Afghanistan cheaply. When stumps are called due to rain, Afghanistan had scored 291/7provided significant leadership that placed them firmly in control. With the pitch starting to show signs of wear and tear, Zimbabwe now have an uphill battle to salvage the match as they have to negotiate a tough 4th day against the Afghan bowling attack.
Rain caused early stumping on Day 3 in Bulawayo as AfghanistanAtalan reached 291/7 and lead by 205 runs.
Tomorrow morning, the game will start 30 minutes early at 12:00 (AFT). 👍#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG | #Famous NationVictory Team pic.twitter.com/aeNwpZWVtt
– Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 4, 2025
