First in Test history: three innings pass 500 in one match as Sharjah Test ends in a draw

Craig Ervine and Wesley Madhevere lit up the final day with the bat. Ervine reached the first double century of his career, while Madhevere tasted his first Test hundred. Riding on their batting, Zimbabwe posted 523 for 5 in their second innings.

In the end, the Sharjah Test finished in the expected draw. But the match has earned a place in history. For the first time in Test cricket, three different innings in a single match have produced 500 or more runs.

In the final session, Ervine went past his previous highest Test score, a record set in 2017, on his way to his maiden double century. He also scored his first Test hundred since 2024. Interestingly, that hundred had also come against the same opponents, Afghanistan.

On the other hand, buried under Zimbabwe's mountain of runs, Afghanistan managed only two wickets in the whole day. They removed captain Brian Bennett early in the day, and later dismissed Antum Naqvi, who scored his first Test fifty.

The 140-run partnership between Naqvi and Ervine kept Afghanistan waiting for a wicket for almost two sessions. Ervine played sweep shots against the spinners, but one top-edged sweep struck his helmet and he needed treatment for a while.

Earlier, the batter had also been given two lives: once on the previous evening and again after Zimbabwe's lead had passed 400. He was already on his way to a double century at the time.

Madhevere joined Ervine in the final part of the day, and his batting brought back some excitement to the last afternoon of the match. Afghanistan bowling coach Hamid Hassan had described the pitch as very, very flat.

On such a slow surface, Madhevere played short balls off the back foot and also stepped out of his crease to play fine shots against the spinners. With two fours and three sixes, he quickly reached his first Test century. As soon as he reached the milestone, players from both sides brought the match to a close.

Delighted with his own century and Madhevere's, Ervine later said that for his unbeaten partner it felt like a weight coming off his shoulders. Madhevere was the seventh centurion of the match. Ervine had completed his double century four overs earlier. By then, the match had become a mere formality for the bowlers.

Across the two innings, Afghanistan's bowlers had to bowl more than 256 overs. On the fifth day, Salim Safi gave them their first success, bowling Bennett with extra pace. But trouble struck amid the celebration of that wicket: a flying bail hit slip fielder Rahmanullah, who had to see a doctor.

Abdul Malik took the second wicket, with Naqvi caught while sweeping. Even after taking the wicket, there was little celebration among the fielders. After bowling continuously for almost 80 overs, bowling coach Hassan said he had been worried whether any of the fast bowlers would pick up an injury while bowling fast on a lifeless pitch. Fortunately, no one was injured in the end.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 504 and 523 for 5 (Craig Ervine 206 not out, Wesley Madhevere 100 not out; Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar 2 for 173, Salim Safi 1 for 62); Afghanistan 514. Match drawn.