SHARJAH – A 137-run third-wicket partnership between Brendan Taylor and captain Brian Bennett put Zimbabwe in control of the opening day of the first Test against Afghanistan, with the visitors closing on 326 for five.
Zimbabwe won all three sessions after choosing to bat, building their total steadily before Afghanistan’s spinners struck late in the day.
The morning session produced 104 runs for the loss of one wicket by lunch, following an opening stand of 60 between Innocent Kaia, who made 34, and Ben Curran, who scored 42.
Zimbabwe added 109 runs in the afternoon session for the loss of one wicket, with Taylor reaching tea on 95.
The evening session yielded another 113 runs, although Zimbabwe lost three wickets.
Taylor brought up his seventh Test century soon after tea and went on to score 131 off 168 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. Bennett, playing his first Test as captain, was unbeaten on 71 at stumps.
Afghanistan’s spinners pulled things back in the final session. Hashmatullah Shahidi ended Taylor’s innings at 262 for two, before left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman removed Craig Ervine for four and debutant Antum Naqvi for nine.
Zimbabwe lost three wickets for 25 runs during that spell, but Bennett and Wessly Madhevere steadied the innings with an unbroken 39-run partnership.
Madhevere was unbeaten on 29 off 31 balls at the close.
Zia-ur-Rehman bowled 30 overs and finished with two for 118, while seamer Mohammad Saleem was more economical, conceding 44 runs in 16 overs and taking the wicket of Curran.
The match marked Test debuts for Naqvi, the Brussels-born all-rounder who qualified to represent Zimbabwe through residency, and Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah.
Zimbabwe won the only previous Test between the sides, played in Harare in October 2025.
The second day’s play begins at 8am CAT.
