New Delhi: Veteran Sean Williams hit 154 as Zimbabwe set a new Test record against Afghanistan at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Friday, leaving the visitors 491 runs behind on the second day.
Zimbabwe were all out for 586 after resuming their innings on 363 for four, surpassing their highest score of 563 in nine innings against the West Indies in Harare 23 years ago.
It was the sixth time that Zimbabwe had scored more than 500 runs in a Test innings.
Afghanistan finished the day on 95 for two in 30 overs after the advertisement lights stopped play.
Resuming at 145, Sean Williams added 9 more runs before being dismissed for 154. He was caught by Rahmat Shah off a Naveed Zadran bouncer.
Williams’ score surpassed his previous highest Test score of 151 against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi three years ago.
Batting at number four, Williams hit three sixes and 10 fours from 174 balls in 266 minutes of innings. This was his fourth century in his last six Test matches.
Williams shared a 163-run partnership with captain Craig Ervine for the fifth wicket. Ervine went on to score 104, hitting 10 fours before being sacked.
“I believe my younger teammates will learn quickly if I can lead by example rather than words,” Williams, 38, said.
Zimbabwe had three debutants, including opener Ben Curran, who scored 68 runs. The other three players featured in only the second Test.
Middle-order batsman Brian Bennett also scored 100 goals for Zimbabwe.
He finished undefeated through 110 holes, hitting four sixes and five fours.
Afghanistan’s teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar took three wickets. However, he gave up 127 runs.
Afghanistan’s innings started poorly. Debutant Sediqullah Atal was dismissed for three times in two overs. A Trevor Gwandu delivery uprooted his middle stump.
Fellow opener Abdul Malik was also sent off for 23.
Rahmat Shah anchored the innings, remaining unbeaten on 49 with one six and five fours.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi remained undefeated until the end of the match on the 16th.
Both teams are looking for their first Test win since they last faced each other three years ago.
