Brian Bennett made 128 on his debut as Test captain as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 504 on Day 2 in Sharjah. Afghanistan replied with 113 for 1, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal both unbeaten on fifties, trailing by 391 runs.
Sharjah, UAE: Brian Bennett resumed on Friday with an overnight 71, and the 22-year-old turned it into a century in his first Test as Zimbabwe captain. His innings carried Zimbabwe from 326 for 5 to 504 all out, and Afghanistan’s batters then made a strong start to the reply.
A hundred on captaincy debut
Bennett batted for 206 balls and hit 11 fours before he mistimed a shot against Qais Ahmad in the 116th over. The ball went high towards cover, and Zia-ur-Rehman sprinted backwards to take a diving catch. Zimbabwe were 437 for 7 when he went.
It was his third Test hundred, and it put him in rare company. He became the fourth Zimbabwean to score a Test century on captaincy debut, after Dave Houghton, Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine, and, at 22 years and 360 days, the second-youngest Zimbabwe captain to reach a Test hundred, behind Tatenda Taibu. He had shared a 137-run third-wicket stand with Taylor on Thursday, and on Friday he added 96 for the sixth wicket with Wessly Madhevere, who made 54.
Tail pushes Zimbabwe past 500
Tafadzwa Tsiga contributed a useful 44 before Zimbabwe were bowled out in 134.3 overs, a total built on Taylor’s 131 from the opening day. Mohammad Saleem and Qais Ahmad took three wickets each for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan answer
Afghanistan closed on 113 for 1 after 35 overs. Sediqullah Atal was unbeaten on 55 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz on 50, while Blessing Muzarabani conceded 29 runs without a wicket. Afghanistan, who beat Zimbabwe in the UAE tri-series final last month, trail by 391 with nine wickets in hand and resume on Saturday.
Close of play, Day 2: Zimbabwe 504 all out (134.3 overs). Brendan Taylor 131, Brian Bennett 128, Wessly Madhevere 54, Tafadzwa Tsiga 44, Ben Curran 42. Bowling: Mohammad Saleem 3 wickets, Qais Ahmad 3 wickets. Afghanistan 113/1 (35 overs). Sediqullah Atal 55*, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 50*. Afghanistan trail by 391 runs.
