CRICKET POLL

Rashid Khan's seven-wicket haul powered Afghanistan to a 72-run victory in the second Test in Bulawayo, helping the visitors clinch the series 1-0 after the first rubber ended in a draw. Zimbabwe were already on the brink of defeat going into the final day at 205 for 8, and lost the last two wickets without any addition to their overnight tally.

Rashid would've struck in his first over to remove Richard Ngarava, if not for captain Hashmatullah Shahidi putting down a chance at point after running in from cover. It didn't make much of a difference as Ngarava fell in just the next over, run out by Shahidullah Kamal after a miscommunication for a run with Craig Ervine. Ervine, who kept Zimbabwe alive heading into the fifth day - even if only just - was trapped leg before to give Rashid his seventh wicket of the innings and Afghanistan their win.

Before Rashid could run through Zimbabwe's line-up across the last two days, Afghanistan successfully turned the tables on the home side through centuries from Rahmat Shah (139) and Ismat Alam (101) that allowed them to post a daunting total for the hosts despite conceding a first-innings lead to them.

Like in the second dig, Zimbabwe's first innings too relied on three of their senior batters to dig in and give them the advantage. Sikandar Raza (61), Ervine (75) and Sean Williams (49) pushed them past Afghanistan's first innings total but couldn't quite come together for the second time around in the face of a target of 278. Ben Curran, Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Raza got starts but Rashid took each of them out on Day 4. Ervine attempted defiance again but the rest of the middle and lower order couldn't keep up. Ultimately, Zimbabwe folded with Rashid taking out Zimbabwe's best batter of the game, to finish with a match haul of 11 wickets.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 157 (Rashid Khan 25; Sikandar Raza 3-30, Newman Nyamhuri 3-42) & 363 (Rahmat Shah 139, Ismat Alam 101; Blessing Muzarabani 6-95) beat Zimbabwe 243 (Craig Ervine 75, Sikandar Raza 61; Rashid Khan 4-94, Yamin Ahmadzai 3-62) & 205 (Craig Ervine 53; Rashid Khan 7/66) by 72 runs