The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
SEAN Williams scored a fighting unbeaten hundred, put on an unbroken century stand with Donald Tiripano to give Zimbabwe a slender lead against Afghanistan on day four of the second cricket Test at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates yesterday.
Williams scored 106 not out from 190 balls, with nine fours and one six. It was the Zimbabwean skipper’s four Test hundred. His partnership with Tiripano, who is on a career best 63 not out was worth 124 runs at the close of play last night, with Zimbabwe on 266 for seven in 106 overs.
Sean Williams with Donald Tiripano in the middle
They were made to follow on after being bowled out for 287 in their first innings. Afghanistan posted a mammoth 545/4 declared in their first innings. Zimbabwe secured a slender lead of eight runs and with three wickets in hand, their chances of avoiding defeat are slim.
The day had started off with Zimbabwe on 24 for no loss of wickets, with their openers, Prince Masvaure and Kevin Kasuza at the crease. Masvaure and Kasuza went in quick succession, so did Tarisai Musakanda as well as Wesley Madhevere. It has been an unpleasant introduction to Test cricket for the 20-year-old Madhevere who now has an unwanted record of being one of the few batsmen to be dismissed whose first three scores in international cricket have been ducks.
Afghanistan celebrate one of Rashid Khan’s wickets
Madhevere had a go at left arm seamer Sayed Shirzad’s delivery that he should have left alone and only succeeded on getting an edge which was snuffled by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai behind the stumps.
Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe’s top scorer in the first innings was not patient enough this time around as he fell to leg spinner Rashid Khan for 22.
Ryan Burl had huge questions about his exact role in the team, the left hander fell for a four-ball duck, the second time in the match that he has gone for naught. Regis Chakabva also went without scoring and Zimbabwe were in danger of losing by an innings.
Tiripano faced 164 deliveries and put away 11 fours in a fruitful partnership with Williams to take the match into day five. Khan troubled the Zimbabwean batsmen to finish the day with five wickets for 105 runs in 43 overs, 10 of those overs being maidens.
Rashid Khan sends down a delivery on day four against Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe are under immense pressure heading into day five. Afghanistan certainly have the upper hand in their quest to level the series. The only way out for Zimbabwe is to bat for better parts of today and prevent Afghanistan from winning so they walk away with the Abu Dhabi Sunshine Test Series after winning the first match by 10 wickets. – @Mdawini_29
