Zimbabwe and their veteran batsman Sean Williams set Test records on Friday against Afghanistan, who trailed by 491 runs after the second day of the first Test in Bulawayo.

With the score at 363 to four, the home team came in at 586 at the Queens Sports Club in the southern city. When poor light halted play, Afghanistan were at 95 in two of 30 overs.

Zimbabwe’s first innings total was the highest in a Test, surpassing the West Indies’ 563 for nine in Harare 23 years ago. It was Zimbabwe’s sixth innings to cross 500 runs.

After making 145 runs on the first day, Williams added nine more before being caught by Rahmat Shah near the boundary line off a Naveed Zadran bouncer.

His 154 surpassed a previous best of 151, also not achieved against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi three years ago.

Williams, batting at No. 4, hit three sixes and 10 fours off 174 balls in a 266-minute stand in the city where he was born. It was his fourth century in six Tests.

His partnerships included 163 for the fifth wicket with captain Craig Ervine, who subsequently scored 104, including 10 fours, before his inside edge was caught by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.

“If I can lead by example and not by talking, I believe my young teammates will learn quickly,” said the 38-year-old Williams.

Zimbabwe fielded three debutants, including 68-run opener Ben Curran, and three others are making only their second Test appearances.

Midfielder Brian Bennett was another Zimbabwean star, scoring a brisk, unbeaten 110 that included four sixes and five fours.

Teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar was Afghanistan’s most successful bowler but his three wickets proved costly as he conceded 127 runs.

The Afghanistan innings got off to a disastrous start when Test newcomer Sediqullah Atal was bowled out three times in the second over after a shot from Trevor Gwandu dislodged his middle stump.

Fellow opener Abdul Malik was dismissed for 23 before Shah patiently built an unbeaten 49 that included a six and five fours. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was 16 not out.

Both teams are looking for their first Test win since defeating each other three years ago.

Short scores

Zimbabwe 586 in 135.2 overs versus Afghanistan 95-2 in 30 overs. Bad light stopped playing

Litter: Zimbabwe

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