The first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe ended in a draw in Sharjah on Monday after Craig Ervine’s maiden Test double century carried Zimbabwe to 523 for 5 in their second innings, closing out a match in which all three innings passed 500 — a first in the history of Test cricket.
Resuming on 164 for 3 with a lead of 154, Zimbabwe lost captain Brian Bennett early on the final morning, cleaned up by Saleem Safi, but Ervine and Antum Naqvi then batted through most of the day in a 140-run stand. Naqvi made a maiden half-century before falling to Abdul Malik, caught off a sweep, and Wessley Madhevere joined Ervine for the final act.
Ervine, who had been given a reprieve the previous evening and another once the lead had crossed 400, marched past his career-best Test score of 160, set against Sri Lanka in 2017, and reached his maiden double century four overs before Madhevere completed his own maiden Test hundred. Ervine finished unbeaten on 206 from 279 balls, with 22 fours and two sixes, while Madhevere made 100 not out from 108 balls, with two fours and three sixes, and the captains shook hands soon after he reached three figures.
The numbers tell the story of a lifeless surface. Afghanistan’s bowlers sent down just over 256 overs across Zimbabwe’s two innings, and bowling coach Hamid Hassan described the pitch as “very, very flat”. Ervine needed a physio check after a top edge struck his helmet, and he later said he was “ecstatic” for Madhevere, calling the maiden hundred “a monkey off the back” for his batting partner.
Seven centuries were scored in the match — Brendan Taylor (131) and Brian Bennett (128) for Zimbabwe in the first innings, Rahmat Shah (173), Sediqullah Atal (105) and Rahmanullah for Afghanistan, then Ervine and Madhevere. Taylor and Bennett had carried Zimbabwe to 504 after winning the toss, before Rahmat’s 173 took Afghanistan past them to 514 and a slender 10-run lead. For Ervine, the double century was his first Test hundred since the Boxing Day Test against the same opposition in 2024, when he made 104 in Bulawayo. The three innings produced 1,541 runs in all: Zimbabwe 504, Afghanistan 514, and Zimbabwe 523 for 5. Taylor, who also made 82 in the second innings, was named player of the match.
Zimbabwe 504 and 523 for 5 drew with Afghanistan 514. The teams meet again in the second and final Test in Sharjah on Friday, November 13, on a different surface that is currently being watered, with the series level at 0-0.
Related:
- Taylor’s 82 and Bennett’s Unbeaten 49 Put Zimbabwe 154 Ahead as Sharjah Test Drifts Towards a Draw — https://t20star.com/taylors-82-and-bennetts-unbeaten-49-put-zimbabwe-154-ahead-as-sharjah-test-drifts-towards-a-draw/
- Brian Bennett’s 128 on Captaincy Debut Powers Zimbabwe to 504 Against Afghanistan in Sharjah — https://t20star.com/brian-bennetts-128-on-captaincy-debut-powers-zimbabwe-to-504-against-afghanistan-in-sharjah/
