Rare take a look at win for Zimbabwe in simple defeat of Afghanistan

Zimbabwe gained a Test by an innings for less than the third time after they defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday (October 22, 2025), with two days to spare.

Afghanistan batted after Zimbabwe gained the toss and had been all out for 127. Zimbabwe made 359 in reply with Ben Curran hitting a maiden century, giving the hosts a 232-run first innings lead.

Curran gained the participant of the match award for his 121 runs, which swung the one-off Test decisively in favour of the hosts on the second day.

The vacationers’ batters struggled once more of their second innings and had been dismissed for 159 with solely Ibrahim Zadran (42) and middle-order Bahir Shah (32) having some success.

Brad Evans took 5 wickets within the first Afghan innings and second time spherical it was the flip of Richard Ngarava (5-37) to glitter as the short claimed his first Test five-for.

Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by an innings in 1995 in Harare and repeated the feat towards Bangladesh six years later in Bulawayo.

It was the primary Test victory by Zimbabwe in Harare since 2013, after they beat Pakistan by 24 runs in a thriller.

“It is a pleasant finish to a troublesome 12 months of Test cricket for us,” mentioned Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine, referring to seven losses of their eight earlier Tests.

“On a wicket that provided just a little bit all through, I assumed it was a superb effort with the bat from the boys.

“They have learnt a good bit over the previous few months, taking part in the quantity of Test cricket that we did towards top-class opponents.

“The bowlers had been excellent. Brad (Evans) within the first innings picked up a five-for. Richie (Ngarava) stepped up within the second innings and did the identical.”

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi mentioned: “Zimbabwe performed actually good cricket, and we didn’t. The circumstances supported the quick bowlers.

“We had been pleased to bat first and scored 76 runs for the lack of just one wicket. Then there was a spectacular collapse. We let ourselves down as a workforce.”

The sole constructive for Afghanistan, who beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a two-Test sequence final January, was the efficiency of debutant seamer Ziaur Rahman, who captured seven wickets.