Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by innings after Curran century in Harare

Zimbabwe defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, completing the oneoff Test inside three days. The hosts dismissed Afghanistan for 127 in the first innings and 159 in the second after posting 359 in reply, with Ben Curran’s maiden Test century the decisive batting contribution.

Curran top-scored for Zimbabwe with 121 from 256 balls as the home side rebuilt after bowling first. Sikandar Raza added a composed 65 and contributions from Nick Welch and Brendan Taylor helped Zimbabwe reach 359 and establish a 232 run first-innings lead. Curran was named player of the match.

Afghanistan’s tour was undermined by two potent pace attacks. In Zimbabwe’s first innings, debutant Ziaur Rahman emerged as a bright spot for Afghanistan, claiming seven wickets in a career-best haul as he exploited seam movement and variable bounce. Despite that, Afghanistan’s batters failed to build sustained partnerships. In the visitors’ first innings Brad Evans ran through the lineup with a five wicket haul, and in the second innings Richard Ngarava led the attack with five for 37 to complete the victory. Blessing Muzarabani also contributed with multiple wickets...