Zimbabwe became the first team in Test cricket history to score more than 500 runs in both innings of the same match, achieving the landmark in their drawn first Test against Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Zimbabwe posted 504 in their first innings before declaring their second innings on 523 for five. Afghanistan replied with 514 in between, meaning the five-day match produced 1,541 runs across three completed innings and seven centuries.

Ervine's maiden double century

Captain Craig Ervine delivered the standout performance of the match, remaining unbeaten on 206 in the second innings for his maiden Test double century. At 41 years and 82 days, he became the third-oldest player to score a Test double hundred, behind only England's Jack Hobbs and South Africa's Eric Rowan.

It was Ervine's first Test century since 2024, and it also came against Afghanistan. He survived a top edge that struck his helmet and required a physio check, as well as a couple of reprieves, before reaching the milestone in the final session of the match.

Ervine received valuable support from Wessly Madhevere, who scored an unbeaten 100, his maiden Test century. The pair added an unbroken 208-run partnership for the sixth wicket, a new Zimbabwe record for that wicket, and Madhevere reached his hundred shortly after Ervine's double century before the players shook hands on the draw.

Seven centuries in Sharjah

Zimbabwe's first-innings total of 504 was built around Brendan Taylor's 131 and Brian Bennett's 128. Taylor added 82 in the second innings and was named player of the match.

Afghanistan responded with 514 to take a narrow 10-run first-innings lead. Rahmat Shah led the way with 173, while Sediqullah Atal scored 105 and Rahmanullah Zadran contributed 113, as three Afghanistan batters also reached three figures.

For the first time in the history of Test cricket, there were 500-plus scores in three different team innings of the same match. No team had previously crossed 500 in both innings of a Test in the format's 149-year history.

Bowlers toil on flat pitch

The bowlers struggled throughout on a surface Afghanistan's bowling coach Hamid Hassan described as very flat. Afghanistan's bowlers sent down just over 256 overs across both innings, and only two wickets fell on the final day.

Zimbabwe captain Brian Bennett was dismissed early on the fifth morning, and Antum Naqvi, who made a maiden half-century, was the only other wicket to fall as Ervine and Madhevere batted out the match.

The drawn result leaves the two-match series level at 0-0 ahead of the second and final Test, which begins at the same venue in Sharjah on Friday, 13 November.