BULAWAYO: Rahmat Shah's remarkable double hundred, coupled with a solid century from Hashmatullah Shahidi, spearheaded Afghanistan's impressive reply to Zimbabwe's massive total of 586 on a wicketless Day three of the first Test.
The pair shared an unbeaten 361-run partnership for the third wicket, guiding Afghanistan to a solid position at 425 for 2, still trailing Zimbabwe by 161 runs.
Resuming the day at 95 for 2, Afghanistan faced the challenge of building a substantial partnership to stay in contention.
Rahmat and Shahidi approached the task with patience, initially focusing on singles and twos, defending resolutely to nullify Zimbabwe's early attack.
The first boundary of the day came after 68 balls, but the flow of runs picked up soon after.
Shahidi reached his half-century and Rahmat brought up his second Test hundred, with the pair’s century stand lifting Afghanistan to 191 for 2 at Lunch.
The second session saw a more aggressive approach from the Afghanistan batters.
Boundaries came regularly and Rahmat even struck Brandon Mavuta for a six over midwicket.
Zimbabwe's fielding woes continued as Rahmat got a lucky break when Newman Nyamhuri failed to hold on to a catch at deep mid-on.
Despite some testing deliveries with the second new ball, the partnership grew beyond 200, with Rahmat registering his first-ever 150-plus score in Tests.
Zimbabwe’s catching problems persisted, with Rahmat being dropped twice in the 93rd over—first by wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie and then by bowler Blessing Muzarabani.
Shahidi, nearing his hundred, hit two fours off Nyamhuri before Tea and Afghanistan added 107 runs in the 29 overs bowled in the session.
After the break, Rahmat's aggressive stroke play continued. He struck a boundary off Trevor Gwandu to power Afghanistan past 300, followed by two more fours in the same over.
As Rahmat dominated, Shahidi reached his second Test century with a single off Nyamhuri.
The partnership surpassed 300 runs, becoming Afghanistan's highest for any wicket in Test cricket, overtaking the previous record of 307 set in 2021 against Zimbabwe between Shahidi and Asghar Afghan.
Rahmat's double century came in style, with a boundary off Brian Bennett, making him only the second Afghanistan player to score a double century in Tests.
He celebrated by hitting a six off Sean Williams in the next over. Afghanistan’s 400 came shortly after, with the partnership crossing 350 runs as the Zimbabwe bowlers, on a flat deck, struggled to break the stand.
By the close of play on Day 3, Rahmat had amassed 231* runs off 467 balls, including 23 fours and three sixes, while Shahidi was unbeaten on 141*, having struck 16 fours.
The third session proved to be the most fruitful, with 127 runs coming off 31 overs, leaving Zimbabwe’s tired bowlers with little respite.
