Shahidi hits Afghanistan’s first Test double century

Hashmatullah Shahidi became the first Afghanistan player to score a Test double century on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Shahidi was not out on 200 as Afghanistan declared on 545 for four, their highest total in Test cricket.

The 26-year-old's historic knock took 443 balls and included 21 boundaries and one six, while Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan also scored 164.

In reply, Zimbabwe posted 50-0 in their first innings. In a record-breaking day for Afghanistan, Shahidi and Afghan shared a 307-run fourth-wicket stand - Afghanistan's highest partnership in Test cricket.

The duo join Rahmat Shah as the three players to score a Test century for Afghanistan.

Afghan's innings - which came off 257 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes - came to an end when he was out lbw to spinner Sikandar Raza.

Chief scores

Afghanistan: 545/4 decl (Ibrahim Zadran 72, Rahmat Shah 23, Hashmatullah Shahidi 200 n.o, Asghar Afghan 164, Nasir Jamal 55 n.o)

Zimbabwe: 50/0 (Prince Masvaure 29 n.o). (BBC)