Explore Sean Williams’ remarkable performance in the 1st Test, leading Zimbabwe to a commanding position. Discover highlights and analysis of this magnificent century.
Introduction:
Sean Williams, Zimbabwe’s experienced left-hander, treated the home crowd to a sublime unbeaten 145 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, to give Zimbabwe the upper hand on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Afghanistan. Support from good contributions from debutant Ben Curran and skipper Craig Ervine saw Zimbabwe close the day at an imposing 363 for 4. See also: Jaiswal Show Fight Before Collapse on Day 2 at MCG
Sean Williams Anchors Zimbabwe’s Innings
Walking to the crease at 92 for 2 in the second session, Williams showed masterful control on a turning track. The most important aspect for Zimbabwe in dominating the Afghanistan spinners was his adaptability with his game. It is famous for his sweeping, but in this game, he relied on cuts, drives, and pulls to combat the lengths of the bowlers.

Williams brought up his half-century in just 58 balls and raced to a century off 115 deliveries, showcasing a mix of composure and aggression. The knock was peppered with sixes over long-on and long-off and authoritative slaps through the off side. His control percentage of 90% underlined his dominance, as Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to find answers in the absence of their talisman Rashid Khan, who missed the match due to personal reasons.
Williams, for sure, managed to rotate the strike, while calculated aggression against the spinners made sure Zimbabwe capitalized on their starts. His innings was a masterclass in pacing a Test innings, blending patience with timely boundary-hitting.

Ben Curran’s Sparkling Debut
Ben Curran, one of three Zimbabwean debutants, provided early momentum with a brisk 68 off 74 balls. He struck 11 boundaries, including a confident drive off Azmatullah Omarzai’s first ball in Test cricket. Curran dominated partnerships with Joylord Gumbie (43 runs) and Takudzwanashe Kaitano (49 runs), laying a solid foundation for the team.

Curran’s innings set the tone for Zimbabwe, with the left-hander showing no signs of nerves on debut. His positive intent put the pressure back on Afghanistan’s bowlers early in the day. However, his promising knock ended in the last over before lunch when debutant AM Ghazanfar bowled a wrong’un that sneaked through his defense to knock the stumps back.
Steady contributions stabilize the innings
Zimbabwe’s middle order made significant contributions to build on Curran’s strong start. Takudzwanashe Kaitano (46) and Dion Myers (27) played crucial supporting roles, ensuring that Zimbabwe’s momentum did not wane. Kaitano and Williams added 78 runs for the third wicket, while Myers shared a 50-run stand with Williams for the fourth wicket.

Kaitano looked solid during his stay at the crease, blending defense with occasional aggression. Myers, batting at No. 5, showed intent but fell to Ghazanfar’s sharp return catch. Despite these dismissals, Zimbabwe’s batting depth and Williams’ determination kept them in control.
Ervine and Williams Dominate the Final Session
Captain Craig Ervine ensured Zimbabwe maintained their dominance with a composed unbeaten 56. Batting alongside the fluent Williams, Ervine adopted a leg-side dominant approach, focusing on accumulating runs without taking undue risks.

The two combined to stitch an unbroken 143-run partnership for the fifth wicket, further frustrating Afghanistan’s bowlers. Williams continued to attack whenever he got the chance, while Ervine anchored the innings, ensuring the team capitalized on the platform set by the top order.
Williams got lucky when he was on 124, surviving a no-ball dismissal off Zahir Khan. However, his control and confidence overall made him the man of the day. Ervine’s solid knock provided the perfect foil to Williams’ aggression as the two took Zimbabwe to a commanding position.

Afghanistan’s Bowling Struggles
Afghanistan’s inexperienced bowling attack failed to make an impact in the absence of Rashid Khan. Debutant AM Ghazanfar was the pick of the attack with two crucial wickets, including Curran and Myers, but the rest of the attack lacked penetration.
Azmatullah Omarzai, also making his debut, endured a tough initiation as Curran took him apart early. Zahir Khan provided moments of control but was unable to capitalize on the turning track. Mohammad Nabi’s leadership will be tested as Afghanistan looks to regroup and find ways to restrict Zimbabwe on Day 2.

A Day to Remember for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe ended the day well with a run rate of 4.27. That was aggressive yet controlled cricket, and the team’s strong batting display puts them in a commanding position to force Afghanistan to do much more work. Zimbabwe will now try to push for a massive first-innings total, as Williams is looking good for a double century, still unbeaten.