Zimbabwe's captain Craig Ervine led the team with 75 runs, supported by Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams, to reach 243 against Afghanistan. Rashid Khan took four wickets for 94 runs. Afghanistan struggled in their second innings, trailing by 40 runs at 46-3, with Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza causing early damage. Read more on TOI
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The second Test match of the 2024 cricket series between India and Australia was a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. The match took place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand in the series. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, putting up a strong total of 375 runs in their first innings. Opener David Warner led the way with a brilliant century, while captain Pat Cummins chipped in with a crucial half-century. The Indian bowlers toiled hard on a flat pitch, with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin picking up three wickets each. In response, India got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets and struggling to build partnerships. However, a resilient century from captain Virat Kohli and valuable contributions from Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant helped them reach a total of 320 runs, trailing Australia by 55 runs. Australia came out to bat in their second innings with a lead in hand, looking to set a challenging target for India. They were in a strong position at 180/2 before a collapse saw them lose quick wickets. Marnus Labuschagne played a crucial knock of 89 runs to guide Australia to a total of 275 runs, setting India a target of 331 runs to win the match. Chasing a challenging total, India got off to a solid start with openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill putting on a century partnership. However, a middle-order collapse saw them lose wickets at regular intervals, leaving them in a precarious position. It was then that all-rounder Marcus Stoinis stepped up with a brilliant all-round performance, picking up crucial wickets with the ball and scoring a quick-fire half-century with the bat to guide Australia to victory. In the end, Australia emerged victorious by 67 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The match was a testament to the competitive spirit and skill of both teams, with players from both sides putting on impressive performances. The series now moves to Sydney for the third Test, where India will be looking to bounce back and level the series. Cricket fans can expect more exciting cricketing action in the upcoming matches as the battle between India and Australia continues to unfold.