Atal, debutant Rahmanullah firm in response after Zimbabwe rack up 504
Dropped off the first two balls of the innings, Atal put on an unbeaten 99-run stand with Rahmanullah after Bennett followed Taylor in scoring a ton for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe built on centuries from Brendan Taylor and Brian Bennett to post 504 against Afghanistan, but were met with a strong reply, helmed by debutant Rahmanullah and opener Sediqullah Atal on Day 2 of the first Test in Sharjah.
Starting the day on 326/5, Bennett followed Taylor in reaching a century. He was supported well by a fifty from Wessly Madhevere, while contributions from the lower order kept Afghanistan’s bowlers on the field well into the post-Lunch session.
The morning saw Afghanistan’s seamers employ plenty of short balls, but it didn’t give them any breakthrough until just after drinks. But once Madhevere had ticked past his fifty, the ploy finally worked for Sharifi.
Bennett, on his Test captaincy debut, continued unbothered, reaching his century with a hard slash for four in the 104th over. A six later in the over brought up Zimbabwe’s 400. It took a fine catch to bring Bennett’s end. He tried to go after a tossed-up Qais Ahmad delivery but could only go as far as a diving Zia-ur-Rehman.
It brought in Graeme Cremer, back in the Test team after nearly nine years. At the other end, Tadafzwa Tsiga slowly worked on his start, and the duo pushed them past 450, before Tsiga became Qais’s third victim. With Afghanistan having reached the tail, Cremer hit Qais for two fours in a row, before settling in alongside Newman Nyamhuri, who stuck around for 25 balls.
Cremer remained unbeaten on 34 as Saleem Safi took his third, bowling out Zimbabwe soon after they crossed 500.
Afghanistan’s response began with two lucky breaks. Atal was dropped first ball off Blessing Muzarabani at gully, and earned another reprieve the very next ball, when Innocent Kaia spilled another. Soon after, Atal survived another chance, when a catch was claimed at third slip, but the batter earned the benefit of doubt after replays.
Nyamhuri soon prised out Abdul Malik: going for a delivery down leg, he was pouched by the keeper Tsiga’s fine one-handed take. But that was the only opening Zimbabwe got all evening.
With the pitch showing signs of wear, spinners were employed from both ends from the 13th over. But Atal and Rahmanullah worked hard to watchfully keep them at bay. Cremer, searching for his first Test wicket since 2017, tried to use the round-the-wicket angle to bother the right-handed Rahmanullah, but the debutant navigated his spell craftily. He used the sweep when it was too full, as did Atal, using the reverse sweep against the leggie. Atal also used his feet well, hitting Cremer for two sixes down the ground.
The two remained unseparated until the dying stages of the day; Rahmanullah punched the air after reaching his maiden fifty, while Atal got to his with a hook for four off a bouncer. With light fading, Zimbabwe brought back the quicks in the hopes of sparking something. The light meters came out when Rahmanullah was checked for concussion after coping a Muzarabani bouncer on his helmet. The Zimbabwe quick did not relent, following it with another bumper that darted into his forearm, which prompted the umpires to end the day.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 113/1 (Sediqullah Atal 55*, Rahmanullah 50*; Newman Nyamhuri 1-10) trail Zimbabwe 504 (Brendan Taylor 131, Brian Bennett 128; Saleem Saifi 3-82, Qais Ahmad 3-120) by 391 runs.
