10:20am That will be all from us for this game. It was quite a game across five days and although the end seemed a little anti-climactic, the action before it certainly wasn't. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and until next time, this is goodbye on behalf of all of us here at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
Rahmat Shah is the Player of the Series, which is not a huge surprise. He finishes the series as the leading run-getter, scoring 392 runs at an average of 130.66, which included a double century and a hundred.
Rashid Khan, Player of the Match: After three years, back in Test cricket, it was hard for me to come back from back surgery and play the longest format. It is a team effort, the way they (the batters) delivered with the bat in the second innings - that got us back (in the game). When there is team effort, you have more chances of winning. The way Rahmat and Izmat batted, it was not easy, especially getting out (on zero) on debut. The way he came back, he got hit but he stood there - it was a great example of him wanting to be there at the end and bat for the country. He wants to take all the pressure on himself and he set the example. He and Rahmat gave us the chance to come back (later with the ball). It is about keeping it simple, making sure you adjust to the conditions and the situations. Have not bowled much with the red ball, have not even touched it (in the last three years). Tried to have belief (in what I have been doing last 10-12 years in international cricket). Does not matter if I am bowling quicker or slower, but more about the length I ball - that is what creates problems. I try to adjust to the conditions as quickly as I can.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: Congratulations to my entire team, very happy the way they performed. The first day was difficult for us, coming back from that was not easy. The team showed the spirit and that showed we are mentally strong and hopefully this works in the future as well. Credit goes to the entire team, but especially to Rahmat, Izmat and Rashid. First of all, I will talk about Rahmat. He has always showed his talent when the team needs him. One of the best innings he has played in front of me. He (Izmat) has scored a lot of runs in First-Class cricket. We played a lot of First-Class cricket this year and that helped us to pick players, and made him mature. The first innings was difficult for him and coming back from that was not easy, but very happy (for him). His father was one of the founders of Afghanistan cricket and now, his son is rising and playing for his country, made it special. The way we played in this series was very good. It was a good learning for us moving forward and hopefully we learn from this, work harder and I know Afghanistan team have the talent to beat every side. We are good in every format, but we have to believe in ourselves and work hard for it. (What's next for Afghanistan) Big challenge - the Champions Trophy. A lot of guys are playing in franchise leagues. After that, we will have a camp in preparation (for the Champions Trophy) and we have a good chance to make it special and hopefully, we will do something special.
Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe captain: There were definitely times in the game we could have capitalized properly, but we could not. We could have pushed that (first-innings lead) further. Certain areas we could have done better, Afghanistan played much better (than us in this game). Going back to the first innings, getting them out for 150-odd, that was our opportunity to get above 300-350 and grow that lead. Lot of credit needs to go to Rahmat and Izmat and brought the team back, and then Rashid with a seven-for, that was outstanding. Really promising signs (for us). Really good that we are playing a lot of cricket, hopefully that continues. Lots of positives to take for a lot of guys. It has not been easy, only having two days between the tests has been hard, but really proud of the way they stuck (to their task). Franchise cricket (for the next few weeks), and after that, maybe they come back and go into camp a week before (the next series).
Jamil: "My player of the match and series, Rahmat Shah!"
Here's Sampath with a stat nugget: Most wickets in first six Test matches -
50 - Charlie Turner
45 - Vernon Philander
45 - Rashid Khan
43 - Alf Valentine
43 - Prabath Jayasuriya
9:43am 15 balls and 13 minutes - that is all it took for Afghanistan to wrap things up today. They needed only two wickets and they got them rather promptly. Ngarava first helped them out with some lackadaisical running and like it often happens, Rashid then landed the coup de grâce, almost bagging his seventh of the innings.
Prior to that, Afghanistan, riding on Rahmat Shah and Izmat Alam's efforts, had done brilliantly to erase their first-innings arears and then post a 278-run target. That always seemed a tall order and once Zimbabwe were reduced to 99-4, that became steeper. Raza and Ervine tried their best to establish some sort of foothold but Rashid's unerring accuracy, plus the turn he was able to extract, was just too much to tide over in the end.
CR Ervine lbw b Rashid Khan 53 (141m 103b 4x4 1x6) SR: 51.45
Hello, everyone. Afghanistan just one wicket away. Zimbabwe still 73 runs away. But their captain is still around. Rashid continues from around the wicket
END OF OVER:68 | (wicket maiden) | ZIM: 205/9
- Blessing Muzarabani0 (3b)
- Craig Ervine53 (100b)
- Yamin Ahmadzai12-2-24-0
- Rashid Khan27-3-66-6
Shashwat will see you through now
Muzarabani is the last man
R Ngarava run out 3 (31m 23b 0x4 0x6) SR: 13.04
Ervine on strike, with Zimbabwe 73 away.
Ahmadzai from the other end, from around the wicket.
END OF OVER:67 | (maiden) | ZIM: 205/8
- Richard Ngarava3 (23b)
- Craig Ervine53 (97b)
- Rashid Khan27-3-66-6
- Abdul Malik2-0-12-0