Afghanistan secured a convincing 72-run victory over Zimbabwe on Monday, clinching the two-Test series. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan played a pivotal role, claiming his seventh wicket of the innings to seal the win. Zimbabwe resumed their second innings at 205-8, needing 73 runs for victory, with captain Craig Ervine unbeaten on 53 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

However, Zimbabwe’s hopes quickly faded as they failed to add any further runs. Afghanistan needed just 15 deliveries to secure their first Test victory since defeating Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi four years ago. Richard Ngarava was run out for three runs, compounding Zimbabwe’s struggles.

Rashid Khan’s exceptional performance included career-best figures of 7 for 66 in the second innings, contributing to a match haul of 11 wickets for 160 runs. This victory marked a significant comeback for Afghanistan after trailing by 86 runs following their first innings.

The win also highlighted strong contributions from Rahmat Shah and debutant IsmatAlam, who scored crucial centuries in the second innings. With this triumph, Afghanistan took the series 1-0 after the first Test ended in a high-scoring draw, showcasing their growing prowess in international cricket.