Ervine Hits Unbeaten 206 as Zimbabwe Pass 500 Twice in Drawn Sharjah Test

The first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium ended in a draw on Monday, 9 November. Zimbabwe made 504 in their first innings and 523 for 5 in their second, making them the first team in Test history to pass 500 in both innings of the same match. Craig Ervine finished unbeaten on 206 and Wessly Madhevere on 100 not out.

Zimbabwe batted through the fifth day. Ervine and Madhevere shared an unbroken stand of 208 for the sixth wicket, Zimbabwe’s highest for that wicket in Tests. Ervine faced 279 balls and hit 23 fours and two sixes. At 41 years and 82 days, he is the third-oldest batter to score a Test double century. Madhevere’s hundred was his first in Tests. Antum Naqvi made 61 earlier in the innings.

Seven centuries in the match

The first innings of both sides were just as heavy on runs. Brendan Taylor made 131 and Brian Bennett 128 as Zimbabwe reached 504. Afghanistan replied with 514 to take a 10-run lead. Rahmat Shah top-scored with 173, while Rahmanullah Zadran (113) and Sediqullah Atal (105) also reached three figures.

That made seven individual hundreds in the match, and 1,541 runs across those three innings. Taylor, who added 82 in the second innings, was named player of the match.

What comes next

With the opener drawn, the series is level. The second Test starts at the same ground on 13 November. Afghanistan had already beaten Zimbabwe 3-0 in the T20I series in Sharjah before the Tests began.