Zimbabwe took firm control of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Harare, with Ben Curran stealing the spotlight after scoring his first-ever Test century. The left-hander’s calm and composed 121 laid the foundation for a dominant Zimbabwean total, supported by key contributions from Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans, as the hosts built a huge 232-run lead in the first innings. Afghanistan, in response, were left struggling at 34 for 1 by stumps.
It was a memorable day for Curran, who showed grit and patience on a surface that demanded discipline. His knock came at a crucial time after Zimbabwe had suffered early losses. Brendan Taylor, who looked promising with a quick 32, was bowled by debutant Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, who produced an eye-catching spell on his first outing. Moments later, captain Craig Ervine departed cheaply, leaving Zimbabwe vulnerable.
Curran then joined Sikandar Raza to steady the innings with a game-changing 99-run stand for the fifth wicket. Raza played freely, striking seven boundaries to reach his half-century before falling to a sharp delivery, but by then Zimbabwe had regained full control. Curran carried on, reaching three figures for the first time in his Test career, a milestone that reflected his growing maturity and temperament at the international level.
Even though Afghanistan’s bowlers showed flashes of brilliance, particularly through Sharifi, who capped his dream debut with a magnificent 7-wicket haul for 97 runs, Zimbabwe refused to let go of the advantage. Brad Evans added crucial lower-order runs to push the total further, ensuring that the home side crossed the 350-run mark before being bowled out for 359.
By the time Afghanistan returned to bat, the pressure was firmly on them. Their top order wobbled once again as Richard Ngarava struck early to remove Abdul Malik for just two runs. Ibrahim Zadran held firm with 25* at the close, but with a deficit of 198 runs and only nine wickets in hand, Afghanistan face a massive uphill battle heading into Day 3.
Curran’s maiden century, combined with Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling attack, has put the hosts in a commanding position to chase victory. With momentum firmly on their side, Craig Ervine’s men will now look to tighten their grip and seal the match on home soil.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 127 & 34/1 (Ibrahim Zadran 25*; Richard Ngarava 1/9) trail Zimbabwe 359 (Ben Curran 121, Sikandar Raza 65; Ziaur Rahman Sharifi 7/97) by 198 runs.
