Afghanistan and Zimbabwe drew their first Test in Sharjah on 9 November, the Afghanistan Cricket Board reported. Craig Ervine made an unbeaten 206, while Wessly Madhevere scored a maiden Test hundred, according to the ICC's 9 November account.
Ervine and Madhevere bat through the final day
Zimbabwe began the final day with Brian Bennett and Ervine at the crease after Afghanistan had taken a narrow first-innings lead. Bennett made a half-century before Mohammad Saleem dismissed him. Test debutant Antum Naqvi then supported Ervine through another substantial stand before Abdul Malik removed him.
Madhevere joined Ervine and the pair remained unbeaten when the match ended. The ICC calls their stand Zimbabwe's highest for the sixth wicket in Tests. Ervine reached his first Test double century and Madhevere his first Test hundred. Their partnership took Afghanistan's chance of a late win out of reach.
Afghanistan's lead was not enough
SportsRivo compared the Afghanistan Cricket Board's match report with the ICC's final-day account. The board records Afghanistan taking a first-innings lead; the ICC traces Zimbabwe's recovery through Ervine and Madhevere. Together, the accounts show that Zimbabwe protected the draw in its second innings after falling behind, rather than building on an opening lead.
SportsRivo's earlier squad report named Bennett as Zimbabwe's stand-in captain for the series and listed Ervine and Madhevere in the touring party. The draw leaves the final Test to settle the series.
What the draw means
- Zimbabwe avoid defeat after Afghanistan's first-innings lead and Ervine's long final-day innings.
- Afghanistan's first-innings advantage does not become a victory in the opening Test.
- Both sides take an unresolved series into the final match at Sharjah.
Sharjah hosts the final Test
The Afghanistan Cricket Board schedules the second Test at Sharjah Cricket Stadium for 13 November. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will meet again after the drawn opener.