RAHMAT SHAH'S REMARKABLE INNINGS OF 231 NOT OUT AND HIS RECORD-BREAKING PARTNERSHIP OF 361 RUNS WITH HASHMATULLAH SHAHIDI HIGHLIGHTED THE THIRD DAY'S PLAY IN THE FIRST TEST BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND ZIMBABWE. THE DUO'S RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION WERE ON FULL DISPLAY AS THEY BATTED THROUGH AN ENTIRE DAY, LEAVING THE ZIMBABWEAN BOWLERS TOILING WITHOUT SUCCESS.
Shah's innings was not just any performance; it was a testimony of skill and concentration. He faced 416 deliveries, hitting three sixes and 23 fours, eclipsing his previous highest score of 102 against Bangladesh back in 2019. He surpassed Shahidi’s Afghan record of 200 not out, set three years ago against Zimbabwe. The Afghan captain Shahidi complemented this effort with his own impressive score of 141 not out—a mark significantly aided by the dropped catches from the Zimbabwean side. Together, they left Afghanistan at 425 for the loss of just two wickets, trailing Zimbabwe's initial total by 161 runs.
The Zimbabwean innings had previously set the stage high as they posted 586 runs after winning the toss. Many were expecting the Afghan side to struggle on such batting-friendly turf, particularly after facing various challenges against Zimbabwe's formidable six-man bowling lineup. Despite the introduction of two Test debutants, the hosts were guilty of wayward bowling and sloppy fielding throughout the innings.
Resuming on 95 for two, Afghanistan capitalized on dropped chances, and it was clear as day the Zimbabwean bowlers were unable to get any breakthroughs. Their attempts at clearing the Afghan batsmen were met with deft strokes and circumspect defending, culminating in what would become one of the historic partnerships for Afghanistan.
Both batsmen accomplished notable milestones during the innings. For Rahmat Shah, this innings marked the peak of his career, as he became only the second Afghan player after Shahidi to score a double century. Keeping the focus on partnerships, their unbroken stand of 361 runs set the record for Afghanistan's highest Test partnership, surpassing the previous record of 307 runs held by Shahidi and his teammate, which also was against Zimbabwe.
A significant aspect was the manner of their innings. Shah and Shahidi batted for 95 overs, exhibiting both skillful endurance and the ability to grind down the opposition. With each strike to the boundary, they pushed away from the looming deficit against Zimbabwe’s first innings total. Rahmat’s milestones were achieved with aplomb; he became the highest scorer for Afghanistan in Test history as he completed his century and continued to pile on runs.
During their marathon batting session, the Zimbabwean attack simply could not find their rhythm as they strived to breach the Afghan partnership. There were multiple near-misses for Rahmat throughout the innings, including four dropped catches by the Zimbabwean fielders, signifying the challenges under pressure they faced on the field. Each resolve shown by both batsmen turned collected errors by Zimbabwe's fielding side to their advantage.
Shahidi himself had another noteworthy performance, marking his second Test century, and standing firm alongside Shah through the entire ordeal. He began building momentum as he calmly scored, narrowly avoiding the pressures faced by the Zimbabwe bowlers. These performances from both players meant Afghanistan not only claimed the day but also managed to steer the match potentially toward their favor.
The comprehensive performance created discussions around records previously set. Rahmat Shah effectively sealed his place among the legends of Afghan cricket with his double century, just two years after Shahidi became the first from Afghanistan to score 200. With both the scoreboard and the narrative shifting, it also positioned Afghanistan comfortably as they move forward with the whole match delicately poised as we approach the remaining days—will this bashful resilience continue? Can they press the advantage against the Zimbabwean bowlers?
Only time can tell as the dynamics on the fourth day will be pivotal for both teams as they seek to solidify their standing. But for now, Rahmat Shah’s record-breaking innings will resonate throughout the Afghan cricket community, inspiring upcoming talents and stoking the relentless passion for the game.
