Brad Evans set a Zimbabwe bowling record as the hosts dominated the first day of a one-off Test against Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club.

The tourists lost the toss and crashed from 77-2 to 127 all out on Monday with Evans taking five wickets and fellow right-arm quick Blessing Muzarabani three.

A 97-run second-wicket partnership between unbeaten Ben Curran (52) and Nick Welch (49) then steered the hosts to 130-2 at stumps, a three-run lead with eight wickets in hand.

Back in the Zimbabwe Test team after a more than two-year absence due mainly to injuries, Evans took five of the last seven Afghan wickets while conceding just 22 runs off 57 deliveries.

Those 22 runs were the least conceded by a Zimbabwean in a Test when taking five wickets, bettering the late Heath Streak’s 5-27 against the West Indies in Port of Spain 24 years ago.

“Heath was a Zimbabwe cricket legend so to better his figures makes my achievement all the more special,” the 28-year-old told reporters.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (37) and Abdul Malik (30) were the only Afghan batsmen to enjoy some success, putting on 65 runs for the second wicket before the collapse.

Zimbabwe, seeking to improve a record of only one Test win in the last eight, recovered smartly after losing opener Brian Bennett (six) with just nine runs on the board.

Curran and Welch cautiously built the innings and, after the latter departed just one run short of adding to his three Test half-centuries, veteran Brendan Taylor swiftly added 18 runs.

Welch struck a six and five fours and Curran five fours against an Afghan attack in which debutant Ziaur Rahman (2-35) did best.

After the Test, the teams will play three T20Is on 29 and 31 October and 2 November, also in Harare.

– AFP

Photo: Zimbabwe Cricket