Zimbabwe draw with Afghanistan after record-breaking Sharjah Test
Craig Ervine and Wessly Madhevere remained unbeaten as Zimbabwe ended on 523 for 5 in their second innings.
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan drew their first Test in Sharjah on Monday, after Craig Ervine and Wessly Madhevere finished unbeaten, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.
Zimbabwe ended the final day on 523 for 5 in their second innings, having scored 504 in their first, and the ICC noted that no other side has scored more than 500 in each innings of a Test.
Afghanistan's bowlers worked hard, but the pitch offered little help, and Zimbabwe's batters made the most of the conditions.
Afghanistan had taken a 10-run lead in the first innings and needed early wickets to make a contest of the match.
Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe resumed at 164 for 3 with Brian Bennett and Ervine at the crease, and Bennett made a half-century before he was bowled by Mohammad Saleem.
Debutant Antum Naqvi showed patience to score a fighting 61 and added 140 runs with Ervine before Abdul Malik dismissed him.
Madhevere came in at No. 7 and put on an unbeaten 208-run stand with Ervine, the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Zimbabwe's Test history, the ICC said.
Ervine finished on 206 not out at the age of 41 years and 82 days, becoming the third-oldest player to score a Test double hundred, behind South Africa's Eric Rowan and England's Jack Hobbs.
Madhevere also scored his maiden Test century during the partnership.
Series still open
The result keeps both teams in contention, with the second and final Test set to be played at Sharjah from Nov. 13.
The match was a test of endurance for both sides on a surface that offered little for the bowlers, and the second Test will be the deciding game of the series.
