By Skilder Makona
Afghanistan continued with their dominant display on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe after going beyond 500 runs, leaving the Zimbabwe with a huge task ahead of them.
After an impressive start on day 1 of the second, posting 307 for 3 in 90 overs, Afghanistan continued on their batting spree as they chase a win to level the series, with Hashmatullah Shahidi and captain, Asghar Afghan headlining the Afghan dominance on the batting front.
Picking up from where he left on day 1, Afghan eventually fell for 164 off 257 deliveries with 16 boundaries paving way for Nasir Jamal with four-4s.
However, the star of the day was Shahidi who went for an incredible double century to become the first Afghanistan batsman to achieve such a feat.
He joins Afghan and Rahmat Shah as the only three players from that country to reach triple figures in Tests, as Afghanistan piled on the fifth-highest total in Abu Dhabi.
Shahidi reached 200 off the 443 deliveries with an impressive 22 boundaries.
With Afghan scoring largely on the on-side and Shahidi dominant on the off-side, the Chevrons struggled to plug the gaps with their only other success coming when Sikandar Raza trapped Afghan leg before wicket with a delivery that pitched on middle and would have gone on to at least clip leg stump.
On a flat pitch, Afghanistan breached 500 with their aggressive approach and navigated Zimbabwe’s three-pronged pace attack of Victor Nyauchi, Donald Tiripano and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani with relative ease.
Zimbabwe were reduced to spectators for most of the day as Afghanistan looked more confident on the bat getting 545 in 160.4 overs before eventually declaring.
The Chevronss opening pair of Kevin Kasuza and Prince Masvaure ended the second day unscathed and put on 50 to leave Zimbabwe trailing by 495 runs.
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