Taylor's Vintage 131 Puts Zimbabwe in Command on Day One in Sharjah

Brendan Taylor rolled back the years with a superb 131 as Zimbabwe took control of the opening day of the first Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah, closing on 326 for 5. The 40-year-old, playing his first Test series in years, reached his seventh Test century shortly after tea and became the oldest Zimbabwe batter to score a Test hundred. His 168-ball innings contained 14 fours and four sixes, and it carried Zimbabwe from a promising start into a commanding position after they had won the toss and chosen to bat. Taylor shared a defining 137-run third-wicket stand with captain Brian Bennett, who finished unbeaten on 71 from 128 balls. The pair took Zimbabwe from 125 for 2 to 262 before Afghanistan fought back, with Hashmatullah Shahidi removing Taylor and Zia-ur-Rehman finishing with two wickets. Ben Curran made 42 and Innocent Kaia 34 in a solid opening stand of 60, while Wessly Madhevere added an unbeaten 29 from 31 balls late in the day to push the total past 300. Bad light brought an early end to proceedings after 87 overs, with Bennett and Madhevere set to resume on day two and Zimbabwe eyeing a first-innings total beyond 400 against an Afghanistan side playing without the rested Rashid Khan.