Zimbabwe and Williams’ test results as Afghanistan struggles.

AFP/BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe After the second day of the first Test in Bulawayo, Afghanistan was down 491 runs. On Friday, Zimbabwe and their experienced batsman Sean Williams set Test records.

At Queens Sports Club in the southern city, the host team was all out for 586 after starting the game at 363 for four. When play was suspended due to bad light, Afghanistan’s reply was 95 for two off 30 overs.

Twenty-three years ago, Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 563 for nine against the West Indies in Harare was their highest in a Test match. It was Zimbabwe’s sixth innings with more than 500 runs.

Williams, who had already scored 145 runs on the first day, added nine more when Rahmat Shah caught him off a bouncer from Naveed Zadran on the boundary line.

His 154 beat a previous record of 151 not out from Abu Dhabi three years ago, which was also against Afghanistan.

During a 266-minute stand in his hometown, Williams, batting at No. 4, hit three sixes and ten fours off 174 balls. In six Test matches, it was his fourth century.

Among his partnerships was 163 for the fifth wicket with skipper Craig Ervine, who made 104 runs, including 10 fours, before wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai caught his inside edge.

Ben Curran, who opened with 68 runs, was one of Zimbabwe’s three debutants, and three more are playing in their second Test match.

The middle-order Brian Bennett, who struck a fast, undefeated 110 with four sixes and five fours, was another Zimbabwean centurion.

The most successful bowler for Afghanistan was a teenage spinner named Allah Ghazanfar, although he cost 127 runs with his three wickets.

Test rookie Sediqullah Atal was out for three in the second over when a ball from Trevor Gwandu dislodged his middle stump, ruining the start of the Afghanistan innings.

After fellow starter Abdul Malik was out for 23, Shah steadily amassed an undefeated 49, which featured five fours and a six. 16 not out was Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.

After defeating one another three years ago, both sides are looking for their first Test triumph.

Short scores

Afghanistan 95-2 in 30 overs (Rahmat Shah 49 not out) against. Zimbabwe 586 in 135.2 overs (Sean Williams 154, Brian Bennett 110 not out, Craig Ervine 104, Ben Curran 68; Allah Ghazanfar 3-127). Play was interrupted by a bad light.