Rahmanullah Zadran's debut hundred and Atal's 105 carry Afghanistan's reply in Sharjah

Rahmanullah Zadran became only the second Afghanistan batter to make a hundred on Test debut as the hosts answered Zimbabwe's 504 in Sharjah

Afghanistan's reply in the first Test at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium turned on one partnership, and both men in it reached three figures. Rahmanullah Zadran made 113 in his first Test innings and the opener Sediqullah Atal 105.

Their second-wicket stand was worth 206 and carried Afghanistan from 14 for 1 on the second evening deep into the third afternoon. By the closing session of day three the hosts were 327 for 5, still 177 behind but clear of the follow-on mark of 305.

Zimbabwe, who had made 504 in 134.3 overs after choosing to bat, struck back either side of the afternoon break to take four wickets and keep the first Test of the two-match series in their hands.

A hundred in a maiden Test

Rahmanullah Zadran walked in at the fall of the first wicket, Abdul Malik caught behind off Newman Nyamhuri for 2 with only 14 on the board. He was 50 not out at stumps on the second day and reached his century from 156 balls.

He was run out for 113 from 188 balls, Wessly Madhevere beating him with a direct hit from the field.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board had named him the country's 43rd Test cricketer on the morning of the match. Only Ismat Alam, who made 101 from number eight against the same opponents at Bulawayo in January 2025, had scored a hundred on debut for Afghanistan before him.

Atal bats through the morning

Atal, a left-handed opener, faced 213 balls for his 105 and hit six fours and three sixes, going to his hundred from 197 deliveries.

He was caught behind by Tafadzwa Tsiga off Graeme Cremer, the leg-spinner recalled for this series, who bowled 34 overs for 1-117 — the longest spell of the innings on either side.

The pair had been watchful from the start. Atal needed 101 deliveries for his fifty, and the stand had occupied 178 balls by the close on day two, when Afghanistan still trailed by 391.

Bennett's hundred on captaincy debut

Zimbabwe's total was built on a first century as captain. Brian Bennett, 22 and leading in place of the injured Richard Ngarava, made 128 from 206 balls with 11 boundaries, batting more than six hours before he was caught off Qais Ahmad at 437 for 7.

Brendan Taylor had made 131 from 168 balls on the opening day, with 14 fours and four sixes.

Madhevere contributed 54, Tsiga 44, Ben Curran 42 and Cremer 34 not out, the lower order adding 178 on the second morning after Zimbabwe resumed on 326 for 5.

An Afghanistan attack without Rashid Khan

Afghanistan took the field without Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran, both rested from Test cricket on medical advice, and leaned on two bowlers for six of the ten wickets.

Qais Ahmad took 3-120 and the spinner Mohammad Saleem 3-82, but neither broke a partnership early enough to stop Zimbabwe going past 500.

Rahmat Shah's evening

Afghanistan's captain Rahmat Shah was 59 not out in the final session, with the wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil on 30, the two of them left to cut a deficit that had stood at 391 the night before.

Two days remain, and the second and final Test of the series starts at the same ground on 13 November. Afghanistan won the preceding T20I series against Zimbabwe 3-0 at Sharjah, Noor Ahmad taking 5-13 in the last of them.

Scorecard: Zimbabwe 504 (Taylor 131, Bennett 128, Madhevere 54; Qais Ahmad 3-120, Mohammad Saleem 3-82) lead Afghanistan 327 for 5 (Rahmanullah Zadran 113, Sediqullah Atal 105, Rahmat Shah 59 not out; Cremer 1-117) by 177 runs.