Zimbabwe reached 421 for 6 after 111 overs at lunch on day 2 of the first Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah on November 6, 2026. Brian Bennett was unbeaten on 123 and Tsiga on 13. This is the lunch-interval score, confirmed by the ICC match centre and ESPN commentary, rather than a final result or an automatically updating live total.

The first Test began November 5, and Zimbabwe carried an overnight 326 for 5 into the second day. Brendan Taylor’s 131 had built the first-day platform. Friday’s first session extended that innings despite the loss of Wessly Madhevere, leaving Afghanistan still waiting to begin its first innings at the interval.

Zimbabwe innings timeline from day1stumps326for5 to day2lunch421for6, with the intervening sixth wicket at383
Original diagram from ICC’s scorecard and ESPN’s dated report/commentary. November6day2lunch only; the match remains in progress. View full-size graphic ↗

Taylor’s first-day platform and Bennett’s continuation

ESPN’s opening-day report describes Taylor and Bennett adding 137 for the third wicket. Zimbabwe moved from 262 for 2 to 287 for 5 when Afghanistan took three wickets, before Bennett and Madhevere took the total to 326 for 5 at stumps after 87 overs. Bennett finished that day on 71 not out.

At day 2 lunch the total was 95 runs higher with one additional wicket down, after 24 more overs. Those differences come from comparing 326/5 in 87 overs with 421/6 in 111. Bennett’s continuation past a century gave the innings continuity after Taylor’s dismissal on the opening day; it does not by itself establish a winning position.

Madhevere’s wicket changed the active partnership

Madhevere made 54 before becoming the sixth wicket at 383, according to the ICC scorecard. The stand with Bennett had added 96 from 287/5. By lunch, Bennett and Tsiga had added a further 38 for the seventh wicket, taking the total to 421/6. The earlier 96-run stand and the current 38-run stand are different partnerships.

The lunch scorecard lists Bennett 123 not out from 196 balls and Tsiga 13 not out from 37. Afghanistan had not yet batted, so 421 is Zimbabwe’s running first-innings total, not a final target or the match margin. The next phase concerns the remaining wickets and Afghanistan’s eventual reply.

Follow the same match, with its date and interval

For updates after this snapshot, open the ICC first-Test match centre or ESPN’s commentary and check the innings, date and interval label together. India viewers can use the FanCode first-Test event page linked below. Its listing identifies the Sharjah match; it does not establish that playback is free or available on a particular pass, so use the actual viewing offer shown to the account before paying.

The useful change since day 1 is Zimbabwe’s extension from 326/5 to 421/6 at lunch, with Bennett still batting. What follows depends on the remaining first innings and Afghanistan’s response, not on a projected result. This page keeps the same first-Test address as the match develops, with the snapshot time stated so that an earlier interval is not mistaken for the latest ball.

Sources & context

Prepared by the editorial team from the original records listed below; dates, units and the limits of reported explanations are retained.

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