Raza, Nyamhuri share the spoils as Afghanistan are all out for 157

Veteran Sikandar Raza and teenager Newman Nyamhuri took three wickets each as Zimbabwe bowled out Afghanistan for 157 on Thursday on the first day of the second Test in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe were 6-0 in reply at stumps after the start of play was delayed four hours due to a wet outfield at the Queens Sports Club in the southern city.

Captain Craig Ervine won the toss and elected to bowl, believing the conditions would favor his attack, which took a battering in the drawn first Test and conceded 699 first-innings runs.

His gamble paid off as off-spinner Raza and quick Nyamhuri starred, each taking a prized Afghanistan wicket.

“Given the conditions, I was convinced that bowling first was the way to go. The wicket had been under cover for some time,” said Ervine.

Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah had scored double centuries in the first Test as they put on a national record 364 runs for the third wicket.

After the dismissals of openers Abdul Malik and Test debutant Riaz Hassan with 29 runs on the scoreboard, Shah and Shahidi came together again.

But there was to be no repeat of last week’s run-fest, with Shahidi managing just 13 runs and Shah 19.

Shahidi was the first to fall, caught leg before by Nyamhuri, an 18-year-old making only his second Test appearance. The skipper hit two fours as he put on 30 with Shah.

Shah was the next victim as he failed to connect with a Raza delivery and his leg stump flew.

Lower-order batsman Rashid Khan threatened to recover with a quick 25. He then hit a poorly placed shot caught by Brian Bennett at deep point.

His departure left the tourists on 125-8 but a 27-run last wicket stand between Zia-ur-Rehman and Fareed Ahmad helped lift the total.

Short scores

Afghanistan 157 in 44.3 overs v Zimbabwe 6-0 in 3 overs

Caste: Zimbabwe

str/mw

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