Brian Bennett lit up Trent Bridge with a record-breaking century on Day 2 of the one-off Test against England, becoming Zimbabwe’s fastest centurion in the format with a blistering 139 off just 143 deliveries.
His ton came off only 97 balls — the quickest ever by a Zimbabwean in Tests — and provided a rare high point for the visitors, who ended the second session still trailing by 355 runs but with renewed belief after England's imposing first innings total.
Bennett’s counterpunch was not just rapid, it was historic. In notching his second Test century, he joined an exclusive club of Zimbabwe batters to score a ton against England, and the only one to do so at such breakneck pace.
Walking off to a rousing ovation at tea, Bennett had singlehandedly kept Zimbabwe afloat in a contest that looked one-sided for much of the first five sessions.
Earlier, England had declared on a mammoth 565 for 6, riding on hundreds from Zak Crawley and Joe Root. With a mountain of runs behind them, the hosts turned the screws with the ball.
Shoaib Bashir, initially off-colour in the morning, bounced back strongly to snare two crucial wickets. He removed Craig Ervine with a beauty that drifted and spun sharply from around the wicket to find the edge — making him the youngest England bowler to 50 Test wickets.
In just his second delivery, he nearly dismissed Bennett — only for Joe Root to shelve a tough chance at slip. But Stokes would not be denied, removing Raza with a vicious delivery that seamed away and then dismissing Wessly Madhevere shortly after.
