BULAWAYO:
Veteran middle-order batter Sean Williams smashed 154 as Zimbabwe had been bowled out for 568 in opposition to Afghanistan on day two of the primary Take a look at in Bulawayo on Thursday.
This was the 38-year-old’s Take a look at profession greatest 154.
Making his sixteenth Take a look at look, Williams got here in at No. 4 after a 68 from debutant opener Ben Curran had lifted the house workforce to 92-2 at Queens Sports activities Membership in Bulawayo.
Taking part in within the southwestern metropolis the place he was born, Williams added 78 runs with Takudzwanashe Kaitano (46) for the third wicket and 50 with Dion Myers (27) for the fourth.
He then partnered captain Craig Ervine (56 not out) in a 143-run stand because the Zimbabwe batters lastly got here good after a string of low white-ball totals in current collection losses to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Left-hander Williams, who made his Take a look at debut in opposition to the West Indies in 2013, struck three sixes and 9 fours off 161 deliveries for his fifth century.
Ervine confronted 94 balls and hit six fours within the first Boxing Day Take a look at hosted by Zimbabwe since a rain-affected draw with England in Harare 28 years in the past.
Curran, a son of deceased former Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran and brother of England internationals Tom and Sam, included 11 fours in his 74-ball knock.
Opener Joylord Gumbie was the one Zimbabwean who failed to achieve double figures. He was out for 9 when caught by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off a supply from medium pacer Naveed Zadran.
Teenage off spinner Allah Ghazanfar (2-83) was probably the most profitable of the Afghan bowlers, taking the wickets of Curran and Myers.
However the vacationers’ assault was usually unimpressive. Too many deliveries had been free, they struggled with line and size, and weren’t helped by some sloppy fielding.
Each groups are searching for a primary Take a look at victory since defeating one another within the United Arab Emirates three years in the past.