Asghar Afghan and Hashmatullah Shahidi played contrasting knocks but put on an unbeaten 214-run stand for the fourth wicket to help Afghanistan to a strong position on the opening day of the second Test against Zimbabwe, in Abu Dhabi, yesterday.
The Afghanistan Skipper notched-up his maiden Test century in a stroke-filled innings, where he hit 12 boundaries and 2 sixes, heading to stumps unbeaten on a 135-ball 106.
He reached the mark by dispatching Victor Nyauchi’s length ball to the mid-wicket boundary.
Having stroked three half-centuries previously, Afghan showed no signs of nerves as he reached closer to the three-figure mark.
Before the boundary that helped him cross the 100-mark late in the day, he had hit the bowler for a six through the backward square leg region for a six and followed it up by pummelling him for another boundary, pacing from 85 to 101 in only six deliveries of the 84th over of the day.
Shahidi, on the other hand, played a far more sedate and watchful hand, occupying the crease for 229 balls for his unbeaten 86.
Unlike his Skipper, he dug in the last hour of the day, adding only 13 runs to his score, which included only a solitary boundary.
Nonetheless, his role in the partnership was critical for Afghanistan to seize the advantage on the opening day even as for most parts even before that, they were in front of Zimbabwe.
Chief scores
Afghanistan: 307/3 (Asghar Afghan 106 n.o, Hashmatullah Shahidi 86 n.o, Ibrahim Zadran 72) vs Zimbabwe. (Agencies)
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