A sensational bowling display from Brad Evans and a composed batting response from Zimbabwe put the hosts firmly in command against Afghanistan on the opening day of the one-off Test at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

Brad  Evans, the 28-year-old zimbabwean bowling all-rounder, produced a career-best performance to dismantle Afghanistan’s batting order, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul and setting the tone for a dominant day. His figures of 5 for 22 tore through the visitors’ lineup as Afghanistan collapsed to a paltry 127 all out before Zimbabwe’s top order built a steady reply to take a first-innings lead by stumps.

Winning the toss on a pitch that offered early seam movement, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine had no hesitation in opting to bowl first. His decision proved inspired as his four-man pace attack  Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga, and Evans  combined to devastating effect. Muzarabani and Ngarava extracted lively bounce and movement, while Evans exploited the conditions with impeccable accuracy and discipline.

Afghanistan began brightly through Ibrahim Zadran, who struck four crisp boundaries to get the scoreboard moving. However, Muzarabani soon adjusted his length and reaped reward when Zadran nicked a delivery to slip, where Welch held a sharp chance. At 23 for one, the early breakthrough brought Zimbabwe’s bowlers into rhythm.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, playing with his characteristic aggression, and Abdul Malik added quick runs, pushing the total to 50 in just 11 overs. Their counterattack threatened to stabilize the innings until Chivanga’s persistence paid off when Gurbaz miscued a drive to Sikandar Raza at point, departing for a lively 37 off 37 balls. Moments later, a disastrous mix-up between Malik and Hashmatullah Shahidi resulted in Malik’s run-out for 30, leaving Afghanistan wobbling at 88 for three.

That moment triggered a collapse from which the visitors never recovered. Evans entered the attack and made an immediate impact, dismissing Shahidi for seven with a sharp catch in the gully by Welch , his third of the morning. The slide continued as Afsar Zazai edged behind to wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga just before lunch, Afghanistan limping to the interval at 106 for five.

The afternoon session turned into a rout. Muzarabani struck again to remove Bahir Shah thanks to a stunning diving catch in the gully by Brian Bennett. Ismat Ali followed soon after, tickling a leg-side delivery to Tsiga, before Sharafuddin Ashraf fell cheaply to Evans, lofting tamely to mid-on. The end came swiftly when  Evans bowled two beauties in succession to dismiss Khalil Gurbaz and Ziaur Rahman, completing his five-wicket haul in style. Afghanistan’s innings folded for just 127 inside 33 overs, with Yamin Ahmadzai unbeaten on 10. Muzarabani’s 3 for 47 provided strong support, while Chivanga chipped in with a key wicket during the collapse.

In reply, Zimbabwe’s innings got off to a nervy start when Brian Bennett was bowled by Ziaur Rahman for six. However, Ben Curran and Joylord Gumbie — replaced by Welch in this match — steadied the innings, displaying patience and technical discipline against Afghanistan’s pace and spin. By tea, Zimbabwe were 40 for one, and the partnership began to blossom after the interval.

Welch survived a few tense moments, including a reprieve when he was bowled off a no-ball, but continued to build his innings with growing confidence. Together, Curran and Welch added 97 runs for the second wicket, frustrating the visitors’ bowlers and taking Zimbabwe into the lead. Welch fell agonizingly short of a half-century when Rahman produced a late inswinger that rattled his stumps, dismissing him for 49 off 89 balls, decorated with five fours and a six.

Bad light brought an early close to play with Zimbabwe at 130 for two , three runs ahead of Afghanistan’s total and in complete control of proceedings. Curran remains unbeaten on 52, his partnership with Taylor (18*) poised to lay the foundation for a commanding first-innings lead on day two.