Captain Asghar Afghan (164) and Hashmatullah Shahidi put on 307 runs for the fourth wicket as Afghanistan bounce back from their first Test defeat to Zimbabwe to rack up their record Test score in their short history in the five-day format
Thursday 11 March 2021 14:30, UK
Hashmatullah Shahidi has become the first Afghanistan player to score a Test double hundred on an historic second day in the second Test against Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan racked up 545-4 declared, their highest total ever, in their sixth match since being granted Test status as Shahidi (200no) struck 21 fours and a six in Abu Dhabi.
The tally beat their previous highest total of 342, scored against Bangladesh in 2019 as they registered their first Test victory.
Captain Asghar Afghan contributed 164, which was briefly the highest Test total by an Afghan batsman until Shahidi eclipsed it.
The 307-run fourth-wicket stand between them was also the biggest partnership for Afghanistan, who played their first Test against India in 2018.
Shahidi brought up his double ton with a single off Donald Tiripano and received a standing ovation from his team-mates.
Zimbabwe, who won the opening Test at the same venue inside two days, reached 50-0 in reply before stumps with Prince Masvaure (29no) and Kevin Kasuza (14no) unbeaten.
