Sean Williams’ 145* Powers Zimbabwe to Dominant Boxing Day Lead Over Afghanistan

Zimbabwe’s veteran batter, Sean Williams, played a crucial role in the Boxing Day Test against Afghanistan, scoring an unbeaten 145 to help the hosts reach 363 for 4. His remarkable century, celebrated with his family and well-wishers watching from the Queens Sports Club balcony, gave Zimbabwe a commanding position. Williams comfortably negated Afghanistan’s spin challenge, and with Afghanistan missing Rashid Khan due to personal reasons, their bowling attack struggled throughout the day. The pitch offered some turn, but Williams showed great control, finishing with a remarkable control percentage of 90.

After coming in at 92 for 2 at the start of the second session, Williams used his footwork to take charge of the innings. Known for his sweep shots, he instead relied on cuts, drives, and pulls to assert his dominance over the bowlers. Afghanistan’s bowlers adjusted their lengths, aware of Williams’ tendency to sweep, but he was equally effective rocking back or stepping forward as needed. This adaptability allowed him to handle their attack with ease and build a solid foundation for Zimbabwe.

Williams’ enterprising batting was on full display as he reached his half-century off 58 balls and a century off 115. His aggression was evident when he charged down the track, hitting two sixes over long-on and long-off. At the same time, his timing was impeccable, as he slashed boundaries through the off side. By the end of the day, Afghanistan’s inexperienced attack appeared deflated and bruised by his dominant performance.

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Ben Curran’s Blistering 68 and Sean Williams’ Masterclass Put Zimbabwe in Control Against Afghanistan

Sean Williams’ brilliant innings wasn’t the only key contribution as Zimbabwe finished the day on a high. Opener Ben Curran, one of three debutants for Zimbabwe and one of six debutants across both teams, set the tone with a blistering 68 off 74 balls. He welcomed Afghanistan debutant Azmatullah Omarzai into Test cricket with a boundary off his very first ball, before adding ten more boundaries. Curran was the mainstay of a 43-run opening partnership with Joylord Gumbie (9) and a 49-run second-wicket stand with Takudzwanashe Kaitano (46). However, he was dismissed in the last over before lunch, as a wrong’un from teen debutant AM Ghazanfar sneaked through his defense and bowled him out.

Kaitano and Dion Myers (27), batting at No. 5, couldn’t capitalize fully on their starts, but they ensured Zimbabwe only lost one wicket per session after lunch. The pair added 78 runs for the third wicket, while Myers and Williams contributed 50 for the fourth. Myers was dismissed in the 56th over, caught and bowled by Ghazanfar, bringing Zimbabwe’s captain, Craig Ervine, to the crease. Ervine then anchored the innings with a composed, leg-side dominant knock, bringing up his sixth Test fifty. While Williams had to rely on a no-ball from Zahir Khan when he was on 124 to continue his innings, Ervine’s 56 in an unbroken 143-run partnership with Williams for the sixth wicket proved just as crucial in asserting Zimbabwe’s dominance.

Play was called off five overs before the scheduled stumps due to bad light, but Zimbabwe had already established control with a run rate of 4.27. Ervine’s steady contribution, alongside Williams’ brilliance, left Afghanistan with more questions than answers as the day concluded with Zimbabwe in a commanding position.

Vince’s Century Guides Sixers to Record-Breaking Chase

In a thrilling battle between England openers, James Vince emerged victorious after Ben Duckett had made a blistering start. Vince’s explosive 101 off 58 balls at the SCG outshone Duckett’s power-packed 68 from 29 balls, securing a memorable win for the Sydney Sixers. This chase, the eighth largest in Big Bash League (BBL) history and the biggest ever at the SCG, kept the Melbourne Stars winless after four games and saw their finals hopes quickly fading. Meanwhile, the Sixers maintained their unbeaten record after three matches. For a while on Boxing Day, though, the Stars looked to have the upper hand in front of a crowd of 23,212.

Duckett was in full Bazball mode, unleashing a series of stunning shots. His knock featured six fours in an over off spinner Akeal Hosein, becoming just the second player in BBL history to achieve that feat. He also launched a slog-sweep off Todd Murphy for six, bringing up his half-century off just 22 balls. Duckett’s dominance continued as he hammered Jackson Bird for two consecutive fours and a six before being dismissed at deep third man. Glenn Maxwell added 32 off 17, but the Stars faltered after being 126 for 3 in 10.2 overs, as Murphy and Ben Dwarshuis slowed their progress. Despite the Stars taking only 16 from their two power surge overs, the Sixers took full advantage of theirs.

Vince and Josh Philippe set a solid foundation with an 83-run opening partnership in under eight overs, but the Sixers accelerated after the power surge. Vince, in particular, took on Maxwell, hitting four sixes, including two off Maxwell, one off Tom Curran, and another over cover off Doug Warren. Vince’s 57-ball century made him only the second player to score three figures for the Sixers, narrowly missing a century in the 2021 final. His boundary-laden knock ensured the Sixers’ chase remained on track, and the team’s dominant performance clinched a well-deserved victory.