5 milestones made during Zimbabwe’s 586 in ZIM vs AFG 1st Test 2024
Zimbabwe created history with their mammoth first innings total in the ongoing first Test against Afghanistan at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The hosts displayed pure domination with the bat, keeping the Afghanistan bowlers at bay.
The visitors had to toil hard with the ball before they finally managed to bowl Zimbabwe out on Day 2 (Friday, December 27). They now have a long way to go, ending the day on 95/2, trailing by a huge margin of 491 runs heading into the third day.
While Afghanistan sweated it out, it was a memorable innings for Zimbabwe, with a brilliant team effort as well as stellar individual performances. The hosts also made several milestones during their record-breaking total in the first innings of the first Test against Afghanistan.
5 milestones made during Zimbabwe’s 586 in ZIM vs AFG 1st Test 2024
#5 Highest total in Tests
Zimbabwe amassed a massive first innings total of 586 in the first innings. This is now their highest total in Test matches in an innings. The hosts batted for 135.2 overs and achieved this feat.
It took them 23 years to surpass their previous highest team total in a Test innings. They had racked up 563/9 declared against the West Indies in Harare in 2001, which was their highest until the 586 against Afghanistan in the ongoing first Test in Bulawayo.
#4 Highest Test score for Sean Williams
Zimbabwe's senior pro Sean Williams led the charge for his side, smashing 154 runs off 174 deliveries. His knock comprised 10 fours and three sixes. The 38-year-old, with this sensational knock, thus registered his highest individual score in Tests.
He beat his previous best score of an unbeaten 151. Interestingly, this unbeaten 151 had also come against Afghanistan. He had struck the knock three years ago in Abu Dhabi, which was his highest Test score back then.
#3 Oldest Zimbabwean to score a Test hundred
Zimbabwe's skipper Craig Ervine slammed a century alongside Williams as well. Ervine scored 104 runs off 176 deliveries, including 10 fours in his innings. Ervine, who is 39 years old, is now the oldest player from the country to have scored a Test ton.
Sean Williams became the third-oldest player from the nation to score a Test century at 38 years and 91 days of age. Dave Hughton, who scored a Test hundred for the nation in 1996 at the age of 38 years and 211 days, is the second-oldest player to have achieved this feat.
#2 Second youngest Zimbabwean to score a Test hundred
Brian Bennet, the 21-year-old right-handed all-rounder from Zimbabwe, also scored a hundred in the first innings against Afghanistan. At exactly 21 years and 46 days of age, he became the second youngest player from the nation to score a Test hundred.
Bennet slammed an unbeaten 110 off 124 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and four sixes as well. Hamilton Masakadza, who scored a Test ton at the age of 17, is the youngest player to have done so for their country.
#1 Only third instance of 3 players scoring a century in a Test innings for Zimbabwe
Sean Williams, Craig Ervne, and Brian Bennet scored hundreds, respectively, in the first innings against Afghanistan. This is only the third time that three players scored individual hundreds in a single Test innings for the nation.
Previously, Trevor Gripper (112), Andy Flower (114*), and Craig Wishart (114) achieved the feat against Bangladesh in 2001. The first instance for the country occurred when Andy Flower (201*), Grant Flower (156), and Guy Whittall (113*) slammed tons in same innings against Pakistan back in 1995.