Brian Bennett, at just 21 years and 46 days old, became the youngest player in history to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in a Test match during the Boxing Day encounter between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The historic match ended in a draw on Monday. The previous record-holder, New Zealand’s Bruce Taylor, achieved the feat at 21 years and 236 days during a Test against India at Eden Gardens in 1965.
Bennett also became only the second Zimbabwean to accomplish this double, following Paul Strang’s landmark performance against Pakistan in 1996. Several milestones were set during the match. Afghanistan resumed the fifth and final day at 515 for three, with Hashmatullah Shahidi unbeaten on 179 and Afsar Zazai on 46.
Shahidi’s steady approach paid off as he reached his second double-century in Tests, both scored against Zimbabwe. In doing so, he reclaimed Afghanistan’s highest individual Test score, surpassing Rahmat Shah’s 234. Zazai, meanwhile, brought up his maiden Test century in emphatic fashion, pulling a short ball from Brandon Mavuta over the square-leg boundary for six.
He eventually fell for 113, mistiming a cut off Sean Williams to be caught at backward point by substitute fielder Johnathan Campbell. His partnership of 211 runs with Shahidi was instrumental in pushing Afghanistan’s score past 600. Shahidi was finally dismissed lbw for 246 shortly after lunch, missing a sweep against Bennett.
His innings, comprising.