Zimbabwe created Test cricket history by becoming the first team to score more than 500 runs in both innings of a match. The team, led by Brian Bennett, achieved the milestone during their drawn first Test against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, November 9.
Resuming the final day on 164/3, Zimbabwe batted throughout the fifth day to finish their second innings at 523/5, following their first-innings total of 504 runs. Craig Ervine and Wessly Madhevere remained unbeaten. The second Test is set to begin at the same venue on November 13.
Zimbabwe Become First Team to Score 500-plus in Both Test Innings
Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett were at the crease when play resumed on the final day. Bennett brought up his half-century before Mohammad Saleem dismissed him with a delivery that hit the top of his leg stump.
Debutant Antum Naqvi then joined Ervine and contributed 61 runs, adding 140 for the fifth wicket before Abdul Malik ended his innings. Ervine continued to anchor the innings, while Madhevere joined him after Naqvi's dismissal.
The pair put together an unbeaten 208-run stand for the sixth wicket, the highest partnership for that wicket in Zimbabwe's Test history. The visitors eventually finished their second innings at 523/5, becoming the first team to register two 500-plus totals in a single Test.
Craig Ervine Scores Double Century as Wessly Madhevere Hits Maiden Test Ton
Craig Ervine produced an outstanding unbeaten 206 off 279 deliveries, hitting 23 boundaries and two sixes. At 41 years and 82 days, he became the third-oldest player to score a double century in Test cricket, behind South Africa's Eric Rowan and England's Jack Hobbs.
Madhevere also enjoyed a memorable outing, registering his maiden Test century. After reaching his half-century at a run-a-ball, the right-hander slowed down. He completed the landmark before finishing unbeaten on 100.
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah relied heavily on part-time bowlers and defensive spin during the afternoon and evening sessions to protect his frontline attack. He also avoided taking the new ball despite the old one losing its seam. Zimbabwe batted for more than 122 overs in their second innings.
Zia-ur-Rehman Registers Third-Most Expensive Bowling Figures in Test History
Afghanistan spinner Zia-ur-Rehman endured a difficult outing against Zimbabwe. The 28-year-old became the first bowler in Test history to concede at least 150 runs in both innings of a match.
Zia-ur-Rehman returned figures of 2/170 in 46 overs in the first innings before conceding 173 runs in 50 overs for another two wickets in the second. His overall figures of 4/343 made him the third-most expensive bowler in Test match history.
Only West Indies' Tommy Scott and Australia's Jason Krejza have conceded more runs in a Test. Scott gave away 374 runs against England in Kingston in 1930, while Krejza conceded 358 against India in Nagpur in 2008.
Zia-ur-Rehman also became the only bowler among the seven instances of a player conceding more than 300 runs in a Test to finish with fewer than five wickets.
Meanwhile, Australia's Chuck Fleetwood-Smith holds the record for the most runs conceded in a single Test innings, giving away 298 runs against England at The Oval in 1938. India's Rajesh Chauhan follows him with figures of 1/276 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1997.
Also read: Brendan Taylor scripts history with Test century at 40 against Afghanistan
