Zimbabwe causes Afghanistan to struggle as Williams reaches an undefeated 145.

Zimbabwe (AFP/BULAWAYO) On the opening day of the first Test in Bulawayo on Thursday, Zimbabwe amassed 363 for four against Afghanistan, led by veteran middle-order batsman Sean Williams, who was undefeated at 145.

To surpass his Test career best of an undefeated 151 in a defeat to Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi three years ago, the 38-year-old needs seven more runs.

At Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Williams made his 16th Test appearance, coming in at No. 4 after the home team had jumped to 92-2 thanks to a 68 from debutant opener Ben Curran.

Williams, who was born in a city in the southwest, contributed 78 runs for the third wicket with Takudzwanashe Kaitano (46), then 50 for the fourth wicket with Dion Myers (27).

Following a run of poor white-ball totals in previous series losses to Pakistan and Afghanistan, he then joined skipper Craig Ervine (56 not out) in a 143-run partnership as Zimbabwe’s batsmen finally showed their mettle.

In 2013, left-hander Williams made his Test debut against the West Indies, scoring his fifth century with three sixes and nine fours from 161 deliveries.

In Zimbabwe’s first Boxing Day Test since a rain-affected tie with England in Harare 28 years ago, Ervine faced 94 balls and struck six fours.

Curran, the brother of England internationals Tom and Sam and the son of the late renowned Zimbabwean coach Kevin Curran, hit 11 fours in his 74-ball innings.

The only Zimbabwean to fall short of double digits was opener Joylord Gumbie. When wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai caught him off a ball from medium pacer Naveed Zadran, he was out for nine.

The most effective Afghan bowler was the teenage off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar (2–83), who claimed the wickets of Myers and Curran.

However, the visitors’ assault was mostly ineffective. They had trouble with line and length, too many deliveries were loose, and some careless fielding did not help.

After beating one another in the United Arab Emirates three years ago, both sides are aiming for their first Test triumph.

(Sean Williams 145 not out, Ben Curran 68, Craig Ervine 56 not out, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 46; Allah Ghazanfar 2-83) Zimbabwe 363-4 in 85 overs vs Afghanistan