Curran Century and Pacers’ Power Seals Historic Zimbabwe Victory
HARARE: Zimbabwe secured a memorable and emphatic victory in the one-off Test against Afghanistan, thrashing the visitors by an innings and 73 runs at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. The win, powered by Ben Curran’s anchoring century and the combined five-wicket hauls from Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava, marks a number of significant milestones for the Chevrons.
Resuming their second innings on the third day from 34/1, trailing by 232 runs, Afghanistan’s batting order collapsed dramatically, adding only 125 runs for the remaining nine wickets before being bowled out for a meagre 159 in 43 overs.
Left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava spearheaded the rout, finishing with magnificent second-innings figures of 5/37 in 13 overs. He was ably supported by Blessing Muzarabani, who claimed three wickets, and Tanaka Chivanga, who bagged two. Opener Ibrahim Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with a gritty 42, with middle-order batter Bahir Shah contributing a quick-fire 32 off 33 balls, but none of the other batsmen offered significant resistance.
The foundation for the dominant win was laid by opener Ben Curran, whose composed and disciplined innings earned him the Player of the Match award. Curran’s anchoring century in Zimbabwe’s solitary innings, which amassed 359 runs, proved decisive.
The victory is Zimbabwe’s first at home since their famous 24-run win over Pakistan at the same venue in 2013, and their first innings triumph in 24 years. Furthermore, the innings and 73-run margin is the biggest victory for Zimbabwe in Test cricket, surpassing their previous best of an innings and 64 runs against Pakistan in January 1995.
An “ecstatic” Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine praised his team’s character. “A lot of credit to the boys for fighting and winning to end a tough year of Test cricket,” Ervine said. “The way we started, in the first hour of day one wasn’t good, but the way the boys pulled things back was excellent. Then with the bat, Curran’s innings – full of composure and discipline – was outstanding,” he added, also commending the bowlers, including Brad Evans, who had claimed a five-wicket haul in Afghanistan’s first innings.
