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NEW DELHI: Veteran Sean Williams smashed 154 as Zimbabwe set new Test records against Afghanistan on Friday at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo with the visitors trailing by 491 runs at the end of day two.
After Zimbabwe resumed their innings at 363 for four, they went on to make 586 all out to surpass their previous highest Test score of 563 for nine against the West Indies in Harare 23 years ago.
It was the sixth time Zimbabwe scored over 500 runs in a Test innings.
Afghanistan finished the day on 95 for two in 30 overs after ad light stopped play.
Sean Williams, resuming on 145, added nine more runs before being dismissed for 154. He was caught by Rahmat Shah off a Naveed Zadran bouncer.
Williams’ score surpassed his previous best Test score of 151 not out, also against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi three years ago.
Batting at number four, Williams hit three sixes and 10 fours off 174 balls in his 266-minute 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 dismissed.
“If I can lead by example and not by talking I believe my young teammates will learn quickly,” said 38-year-old Williams.
Zimbabwe included three debutants in their side, including opener Ben Curran who scored 68. Three other players were making only their second Test appearances.
Brian Bennett, batting in the middle order, also scored a century for Zimbabwe.
He finished unbeaten on 110, hitting four sixes and five fours.
Afghanistan’s teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar took three wickets. However, he conceded 127 runs.
Afghanistan’s innings started poorly. Debutant Sediqullah Atal was dismissed for three in the second over. A Trevor Gwandu delivery uprooted his middle stump.
Fellow opener Abdul Malik was also dismissed for 23.
Rahmat Shah then anchored the innings, finishing unbeaten on 49, with one six and five fours.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was unbeaten on 16 at the close of play.
Both teams are looking for their first Test victory since they last played each other three years ago, when both sides secured victories.
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