The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
SINCE being granted Test cricket status in 1992, Zimbabwe has played 111 matches, winning 13 of them, drawing 28 times and losing 70 games.
When the Chevrons took to the pitch against Afghanistan last week, it was their 111 Test match while for the Asians, it was only their fifth.
Interestingly, it was the first meeting between the two sides in the longer version of the game, having played 25 One Day Internationals, in which Afghanistan have won 15, and nine T20 international with the Asians claiming victory in eight of the matches.
It was thus an interesting duel, that was to become a Test of Firsts for the Chevrons.
The Chevrons’ victory against the Asians was the first time that Zimbabwe had cruised to a 10 wicket victory inside two days in their 13 Test wins since 1992.
Sean Williams, who was appointed the Test cricket captain, led the class of players that recorded their firsts for the national team as he won the first Test of his captaincy.
The 34-year old middle-order batsman described the win as a big feat in his captaincy.
“To win a Test match in two days with a young side is an extremely big feat for us as a team, for me it’s huge.
“As I have gotten older and taken on more responsibility as captain and as a senior player, I have started to understand more about my own game and leadership skills, and how important my performance is through tough times.
“As a leader, you can’t show weakness, you need to be strong. That’s a big thing for me,” said Williams.
Zimbabwe seamer, Blessing Muzarabani, who debuted in the pink-ball against South Africa in 2017, could be regarded as having made his proper introduction to the Test arena.
The 24-year-old fast bowler wrote his own piece of history as he became the first Chevrons bowler to take a wicket with the first ball on the first day of a first Test Match in the history of the format of the game for Zimbabwe.
With Muzarabani enjoying his so-called “debut” in International Cricket, the Test marked the beginning of a Test cricket journey for all-rounder Wesley Madhevere as he made his debut for the Chevrons in the historic win.
It proved to be a debut made from hell for the 20-year old all-rounder as he was sent back to the change room from the first ball he faced in a Test match.
Madhevere was given out lbw from Amir Hamza’s delivery.
Playing in his second Test for Zimbabwe, middle order-batsman Ryan Burl took his first wicket for the Chevrons, a wicket that he will cherish for a long time in his career.
The 26-year old Burl took to Twitter to celebrate the achievement.
“First Test wicket. Something I’ll cherish forever,” tweeted Burl.
