New Delhi: Brad Evans scripted Test history for Zimbabwe with his brilliant five-wicket haul on Day 1 of the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Monday. Evans’s fifer triggered a batting collapse for the visitors as they lost 8 wickets for 50 runs to get bundled out on 127 from 77/2 at one stage in their first innings.
Evans also broke a Zimbabwe bowling record held by former all-rounder Heath Streak with his sensational spell. After a solid 54-run stand between opener Abdul Malik (30) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (37), Afghanistan looked on their way to posting a strong total on the board after being invited to bat first in the Test match.
However, Evans combined with fellow pacer Blessing Muzarabani to skittle out the visitors for a paltry 127. Evans picked up five of the last seven wickets that fell in Afghanistan’s innings on Day 1 to finish with exceptional figures of 5/22 off his 9.3 overs. Muzarabani picked up a three-wicket haul as Afghanistan suffered a spectacular batting collapse.
Evans, who made his comeback into the Zimbabwe Test squad after more than two years due to injury issues, etched his name in history with his five-wicket haul against Afghanistan in Harare. He broke Streak’s record for the fewest runs conceded by a Zimbabwe bowler when taking a five-wicket haul in Tests.
With his 5/22 against Afghanistan, he bettered Streak’s 5/27 against West Indies in Port of Spain in 2001. The right-arm pacer called his achievement a special one. “Heath was a Zimbabwe cricket legend, so to better his figures makes my achievement all the more special,” he told reporters at the end of the day’s play.