Taylor fifty ensures Zimbabwe retain advantage

Zimbabwe kept the upper hand on an 11-wicket day despite losing five wickets in the final session. They slipped from 83 for 2 to 169 for 7 and had four batters failing to convert starts. But their first-innings lead of 122, which has swelled to 291, is strong, considering Afghanistan were all out for 217.

Top-scorer Afsar Zazai made 30 of the 48 runs Afghanistan added to their overnight score of 159 for 6. Graeme Cremer ended the 41-run stand between Zazai and Naseer Khan Maroofkhil. The final three wickets then fell for 22 a few minutes before lunch.

In the second innings, Zimbabwe's openers were undone by skill with the ball and in the field. Wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil took a catch that was heading to first slip to get Ben Curran first. Innocent Kaia got an inducker from Ziaur Rahman that kept a touch low and trapped him lbw.

Brendan Taylor anchored the innings with a fifty as Zimbabwe did well in the afternoon but couldn't go big in the evening.

Maroofkhil started the collapse on 126 for 2 with Brian Bennett's wicket. He got one to skid through from good length and fetched the outside edge. Taylor's wicket came with a slice of luck as he steered a short and wide ball to gully.

Yamin Ahmadzai dismissed Wessly Madhevere and Taylor in a tight spell before Mohammad Saleem ended Antum Naqvi's counterattacking 18-ball 20. Close to stumps, Ziaur nicked Brad Evans off. Still, it's advantage Zimbabwe going into the fourth day.