Record day for Afghanistan but first Test against Zimbabwe ends in draw

Record day for Afghanistan but first Test against Zimbabwe ends in draw

Afghanistan amassed its highest score of 699 on Monday before the first test against Zimbabwe ended in a draw at the end of the final day at the Queens Sports Club.

Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, batting for a third successive day, scored 246 to reclaim the record test score for an Afghani batsman after Rahmat Shah was dismissed for 234 late on the fourth day on Sunday.

Hashmatullah held the record with his unbeaten 200 against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in 2021 but Rahmat bettered it in Bulawayo before Hashmatullah claimed his record back in the same innings.

Afghanistan resumed on the last day on 515-3 and saw Afsar Zazai score a maiden test century before being caught for 113.

That wicket set off a slump in its batting as it lost its last seven wickets for 60 runs with part-time offspinner Brian Bennett claiming 5-95.

Zimbabwe was 65 without loss at tea as it began its second innings but, amid a rain delay, then lost four quick wickets but rallied to 142-4 when the two captains shook hands and agreed to end play shortly before the scheduled close.

Zimbabwe’s first innings score of 586 was also a record test tally for it, bettering the 563-9 that it made against West Indies in Harare in 2001.