A Touch of Nostalgia, Zimbabwes Victory Over Afghanistan

Zimbabwe cricket has been going through a challenging period for quite some time. Once a team that shone under stars like Andy Flower, Grant Flower, and Heath Streak, the team’s brilliance has dimmed in recent years. Yet occasionally, victories emerge that revive memories of glorious days and inspire hope in the new generation.

In a home Test against Afghanistan, Zimbabwe secured a commanding win by an innings and 73 runs. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Zimbabwe bowled out the Afghan batting lineup for just 127 runs in their first innings. In response, the hosts posted a massive 359, thanks to Ben Curran’s outstanding century and Sikandar Raza’s resilient innings. Afghanistan were dismissed for 159 in their second innings, handing Zimbabwe a huge innings-and-73-run victory.

Ben Curran scored 121 runs off 256 balls, including 15 fours, marking his first Test century. The young batter’s performance reminded many of the Flower brothers, whose skill once brought Zimbabwe recognition in world cricket. In the bowling department, Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava produced brilliant spells, dismantling the Afghan batting lineup. Muzarabani’s bowling, in particular, echoed the presence of Heath Streak.

For Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran scored 19, Abdul Malik 30, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz 37 in the first innings, but the team collectively struggled against Zimbabwe’s pace attack. Brad Evans shone with 5 wickets in the first innings.

In Zimbabwe’s innings, Ben Curran’s century laid a solid foundation. Sikandar Raza added 65 runs off 88 balls, Nick Wells contributed 49, and Brad Evans remained unbeaten on 35, taking the team total to 359.

In the second innings, Richard Ngarava took 5 wickets and Muzarabani claimed 3, bundling out Afghanistan for 159 and securing a massive innings-and-73-run victory. This was Zimbabwe’s first home Test win since 2013.

After the match, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine said, “This victory is a huge achievement for us. We’ve been going through tough times, but wins like this motivate us to move forward. Ben Curran’s century was a special moment for us.”

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi commented, “We started well, but couldn’t maintain consistency. Our lack of experience ultimately cost us.”

Zimbabwe’s triumph is more than just a match win; it revives golden memories of past glories and offers a beacon of hope for the future. If this African nation can maintain such consistency, it could once again secure a strong place on the world cricket map.