Brad Evans Creates Test History To Trigger Afghanistan Collapse, Breaks Heath Streak’s Record Of…
Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 08:40 IST
Brad Evans set a Zimbabwe bowling record with 5/22 as Zimbabwe led Afghanistan by three runs at stumps in the Harare Test.
Brad Evans celebrates after taking a maiden five-for in Tests. (Picture Credit: X/ZimCricketv)
Brad Evans set a Zimbabwe bowling record as the home team dominated the opening day of a one-off Test against Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club on Monday. The tourists, having lost the toss, collapsed from 77/2 to 127 all out with Evans taking five wickets and fellow right-arm quick Blessing Muzarabani claiming three.
An unbeaten 97-run second-wicket partnership between Ben Curran (52) and Nick Welch (49) then guided the hosts to 130-2 at stumps, leading by three runs with eight wickets in hand.
Returning to the Zimbabwe Test team after over two years, primarily due to injuries, Evans captured five of the last seven Afghan wickets while conceding just 22 runs off 57 deliveries. These 22 runs were the least conceded by a Zimbabwean in a Test when taking five wickets, surpassing the late Heath Streak’s 5/27 against the West Indies in Port of Spain 24 years ago.
“Heath was a Zimbabwe cricket legend, so to better his figures makes my achievement all the more special,” the 28-year-old told reporters.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (37) and Abdul Malik (30) were the only Afghan batters to find some success, adding 65 runs for the second wicket before the collapse.
Zimbabwe, aiming to improve their record of only one Test win in the last eight, recovered well after losing opener Brian Bennett (6) with just nine runs on the board.
Curran and Welch cautiously built the innings, and after Welch departed just one run short of adding to his three Test half-centuries, veteran Brendan Taylor quickly added 18 runs.
Welch hit a six and five fours, and Curran struck five fours against an Afghan attack where debutant Ziaur Rahman (2-35) was the standout performer.
After the Test, the teams will play three Twenty20 internationals on October 29, 31, and November 2, also in Harare.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 127 in 32.3 overs (R. Gurbaz 37, A. Malik 30; B. Evans 5/22, B. Muzarabani 3/47) vs Zimbabwe 130/2 in 38 overs (B. Curran 52 not out, N. Welch 49; Z. Rahman 2/35)
With AFP Inputs
Feroz Khan
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
Location :
Harare, Zimbabwe
First Published:
October 21, 2025, 08:40 IST
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