Taylor, Bennett put Zimbabwe 154 ahead going into Day 5
SHARJAH – Zimbabwe will start the final day of the first Test against Afghanistan on 164 for three in their second innings, 154 runs ahead, after Brendan Taylor and captain Brian Bennett added to their first-innings centuries.
Taylor, who made 131 in the first innings, scored 82 off 88 balls before he was run out. Bennett, who made 128 first time round, finished the day unbeaten on 49.
The day began with Afghanistan completing their first innings on 514, ten runs ahead of Zimbabwe’s 504:
Newman Nyamhuri: the 20-year-old took his maiden Test five-wicket haul, five for 82.
Rahmat Shah: Afghanistan’s captain made 173 off 347 balls.
Tafadzwa Tsiga: Zimbabwe’s wicketkeeper finished with six dismissals.
Zimbabwe then lost two early wickets to left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman, slipping to 38 for two. Taylor and Bennett put on 82 for the third wicket at more than five an over, and Bennett and Craig Ervine (20*) added an unbroken 44 before stumps.
With one day remaining and 23 wickets having fallen across four days, the match goes into the final day with all three results still possible on paper.
