QUICK TAKE | Zimbabwe Become First Team to Score 500-Plus in Both Innings of a Test. Seven Things to Know

1. What record did Zimbabwe break?

Zimbabwe became the first team to score more than 500 in each innings of a men’s Test. Afghanistan made 514 in between, giving Sharjah another first. All three team innings in the match went past 500.

2. Who got Zimbabwe to 500 the first time?

Brendan Taylor scored 131 and captain Brian Bennett made 128. Their 137-run third-wicket stand set up Zimbabwe’s 504. Taylor followed up with 82 in the second innings and was named Player of the Match.

3. How did Afghanistan take the lead?

Rahmat Shah made 173, Rahmanullah Zadran scored 113 and Sediqullah Atal added 105. Afghanistan’s 514 put them 10 runs ahead despite Zimbabwe seamer Newman Nyamhuri taking five for 82. Five of the match’s seven centuries came before Zimbabwe batted again.

4. How did Zimbabwe get to 500 again?

They resumed the final day at 164 for three and lost Bennett for 58. Craig Ervine then added 140 with debutant Antum Naqvi, who made 61. Zimbabwe scored 359 runs for the loss of just two wickets on the fifth day.

5. What records did Ervine and Madhevere set?

Ervine made 206 not out off 279 balls, becoming the third-oldest man to score a Test double century at 41 years and 82 days. Wessly Madhevere reached his maiden Test hundred, and their unbroken stand of 208 set a Zimbabwe record for the sixth wicket.

6. Why did the match end in a draw?

Afghanistan took nearly 170 overs to make 514 on a surface that offered bowlers little help. Zimbabwe then batted through the final day, finishing 513 runs ahead. The teams shook hands just after Madhevere reached his hundred, with Afghanistan still to bat a second time.

7. When do they play again?

The second and final Test starts on November 13 at the same ground in Sharjah. The series is level, so a win for either team would seal it.