Zimbabwe became the first team to score more than 500 in both innings of a Test, finishing on 523/5 in their second innings after making 504 in the first. Craig Ervine’s unbeaten 206 and Wessly Madhevere’s unbeaten 100 secured a draw against Afghanistan in Sharjah on November 9.
Ervine and Madhevere shut the door
Their unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 208 was Zimbabwe’s highest for that wicket in Test cricket. Madhevere, batting at number seven, reached his maiden Test hundred as Afghanistan’s hopes of forcing a result faded.
Ervine reached his double century at 41 years and 82 days. According to the ICC’s match report, that made him the third-oldest Test double-centurion, behind Eric Rowan and Jack Hobbs. He reached the milestone with a boundary off Abdul Malik in the 119th over.
Final-day resistance starts with Bennett
Zimbabwe had begun the last day at 164/3. Afghanistan held a 10-run first-innings lead and needed wickets to create a winning opportunity, but the batting side resisted.
Brian Bennett completed a half-century before Mohammad Saleem bowled him. Debutant Antum Naqvi then contributed 61 and shared a 140-run partnership with Ervine. Abdul Malik removed Naqvi, but Afghanistan could not break the Ervine–Madhevere stand that followed.
The two large Zimbabwe totals were the central statistical landmark of the match. The draw also leaves the two-match series undecided. Both sides return to Sharjah for the second and final Test, scheduled for November 13–17.
This report reflects the completed first Test and the figures published by the ICC on November 9. It does not treat the forthcoming second Test as already started or attach a result to it.