PHENOMENAL Rhinos all-rounder, Antum Naqvi endured seven hours 40 minutes on the crease on his way to a historic 300 not out as his side declared on 538/3 in 126.4 overs on the third day of their Logan Cup four-day encounter against a hapless Tuskers at Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfied, Harare.
The Australia-bred Belgian cricketer faced 295 balls for his 300 hitting 30 boundaries and 10 maximums in his 444-minute occupation of the crease.
Rhinos' declaration on Friday morning was in response to Tuskers' 128 all out in just 42.1 overs as they succumbed to a Michael Chinouya five-for for 31 runs from 10 overs.
Naqvi went about his business in stages first getting to his 100, then a double century on day two and going to sleep on 250.
The 24-year-old then tore in the history books reaching the first triple 100 for on the domestic scene.
Records broken along the way by Naqvi as summarised by Zimbabwe Cricket included Cephas Zhuwao's 2017/18 record first-class Logan Cup score, 265, Ray Gripper's 1967/68 279 not out.
This was scored in the South African Currie Cup competition against Orange Free State and stood as the highest individual score ever made for any Zimbabwean team until Naqvi's heroics on Friday.
Naqvi also tore apart Midlands' Brian Davidson's 299 scored against Matebeleland in a Logan Cup encounter during the 1973/74 season before it became first-class.
- Byo Arts Festival in turmoil…One year later, festival has yet to pay artists…Organisers play cat and mouse with artists
- Court grants businessman’s ex-girlfriend peace order
- Let the music play at JamAfro Festival
- Billionaire UAE prince targets Zim aviation, real estate business
Keep Reading
Statistics showed that Graeme Hick and Murray Goodwin have both recorded triple-centuries in first-class cricket in county cricket in England.
Zimbabwe Cricket's communications arm also said that the first-class record score by any batter on Zimbabwean soil remains the 306 scored by Mark Richardson for the New Zealanders against Zimbabwe A at Kwekwe Sports Club in 2000/01.
"Feels unbelievable on reaching such a milestone. I was lost for words at the time and didn't know what to express upon reaching it," Naqvi told The Sports Hub.
"It was definitely hard work getting past the 100 stages. I just told myself when I got tired, 'the longer I stay out here, the bigger the score I'll end up on'.
"My body was aching after day two, I but managed to revitalise for day three and pushed on as I knew I was close, I couldn't give up now."
Naqvi has made his intentions to play for Zimbabwe known and ZC have given him the thumbs up by fielding him in the Zim Under-25 team against Uganda last year.
"Well it's early days to say anything, but as I have said before, it would be an honour for me to represent Zimbabwe at international level," he said in an earlier interview.
"I'm feeling good with my form, hoping to continue to pile on the runs and take wickets with the ball.
"My dad (Zubair Amir Naqvi) inspired me and he coached me from a young age. I loved watching Ricky Ponting and my favourite Zimbabwe player is Solomon Mire. He is part of our family.
“I have known and watched Solomon play cricket in Darwin since I was a kid. He used to train in the same nets as us so that's how we got to know each other and the rest went from there. He became a great family friend and usually the conversations are just positive feedback about cricket games," Naqvi said.
