Rahmat Shah struck an Afghanistan Test record 231 not out while partnering Hashmatullah Shahidi in an unbeaten 361-run stand on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Shahidi finished a punishing, wicket-less day for the six-man Zimbabwe attack on 141 for his second Test century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Starting the day on 95 for two, the tourists were 425 for two by the close of play at Queens Sports Club in southern city Bulawayo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe, who scored a record 586 after winning the toss and batting, hold a 161-run lead going into the fourth day of the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shah bettered the previous best Afghan individual score of 200 not out by Shahidi against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi three years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He has faced 416 balls after coming in when Afghanistan lost opener Sediqullah Atal in the second over, and struck three sixes and 23 fours in his record knock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His previous highest score was 102 against Bangladesh in 2019 -- the first Test century by an Afghan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inexperienced spinner Brian Bennett was the bowler when Shah became a centurion, then a double centurion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shah, part of the Afghanistan team that made their Test debut in 2018 against India, struck a single to reach 100, and a four to get to 200.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shahidi proved a superb partner. He has faced 276 deliveries and hit 16 fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The skipper reached his century with a pull shot to fine leg off Newman Nyamhuri, one of two Test debutants in the Zimbabwe attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe, seeking a first Test win since beating Afghanistan three years ago, were guilty of some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Medium pacer Trevor Gwandu was a wicket-taker, but also the joint most expensive Zimbabwe bowler, conceding 86 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan won Twenty20 and one-day international series ahead of the Test -- the first of two with the second set to start on January 2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe 586 in 135.2 overs (Sean Williams 154, Brian Bennett 110 not out, Craig Ervine 104, Ben Curran 68; Allah Ghazanfar 3-127) v Afghanistan 425-2 in 125 overs (Rahmat Shah 231 not out, Hashmatullah Shahidi 141 not out)<\/p>\r\n\r\n