Afghanistan strike twice on the second morning, but they have now fallen over 100 runs behind
Lunch Zimbabwe 237 for 8 (Williams 97*, Chakabva 44, Muzarabani 8*) lead Afghanistan 131 (Zazai 37, Muzarabani 4-48) by 106 runs
Zimbabwe took their lead past 100 runs on a productive second morning in Abu Dhabi. The advantage has been built by captain Sean Williams, who is a hit away from his third Test century – and second as skipper. His 75-run seventh-wicket stand with Regis Chakabva dominated the first session on the day, and could prove to be the difference between the two sides in the end analysis.
Afghanistan had success at the start and end of the session, and their spinners asked questions of Zimbabwe’s batsmen, but did not tie them down as much as they would have liked to. Zimbabwe scored 104 runs in the session in 28 overs, with Chakabva leading their proactive approach.
He found himself at the crease in the second over of the day after Ibrahim Zadran had Ryan Burl lbw, without the batsman having added to his overnight 8. Zadran’s over ended with back-to-back boundaries as Chakabva pulled a short ball and then inside-edged one past the wicketkeeper. Zadran only bowled one more over and Chakabva took a third boundary off it, before Afghanistan went to spin from both ends and then welcomed back Yamin Ahmadzai, who left the field late on the first day with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
By that point, Chakabva had also hit the only six of the innings so far, lofting Amir Hamza over long-on, and had scored 24 runs off the first 34 balls he had faced. Williams had been watchful throughout, before he had the opportunity to drive Ahmadzai through extra cover to start showing his intent. After demonstrating his back-foot play yesterday, Williams transitioned to shot-making off the front foot on the second morning, showing an ability to adapt and keep the runs coming. Ahmadzai thought he had Williams caught behind on 70, and though there seemed to be a sound, umpire Ahmed Shah Pakteen was unmoved.
The Williams-Chakabva partnership reached 50 when Chakabva hit Zahir Khan for two successive fours. The two of them looked comfortable at the crease and were navigating spin fairly well. But with less than 15 minutes to lunch, Khan drew Chakabva forward in an attempt to defend a ball that took the inside-edge on to the pad and to Abdul Malik at short leg.
With only the tail to come, and Williams 14 away from a hundred, he pulled Khan through midwicket to enter the 90s but, three balls later, saw Donald Tiripano depart in similar fashion to Chakabva. He also lunged at a ball he could not get to the pitch of and inside-edged to short leg. Williams was on 92 when he was joined by Blessing Muzarabani, who took the lead over 100 with a heave over square leg. Williams went to lunch on 97.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent