Brendan Taylor followed his first-innings 119 with a second-innings fifty as Zimbabwe reached 169 for 7 at stumps on day three of the second Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Sunday, stretching their lead to 291 runs.
Zimbabwe had taken control of the match on the first two days, posting 339 in their first innings on the back of Taylor’s 119 and Innocent Kaia’s 96. Debutant Naseer Khan Maroofkhil had taken 7 for 151 for Afghanistan in that innings, but the hosts still trailed by 122 after their own first effort, and they now face a long fourth innings to save the match.
Afghanistan resumed on 159 for 6, still 180 behind Zimbabwe’s 339, and Afsar Zazai and Naseer Khan Maroofkhil resisted for 118 deliveries together. Zazai reached his fifty from 97 balls and top-scored with 63 from 119 balls, but Graeme Cremer broke the stand by dismissing Naseer, and Vincent Masekesa wrapped up the tail to finish with 4 for 54 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 217, a first-innings deficit of 122.
Blessing Muzarabani took 3 for 38 and Cremer 2 for 64 in Afghanistan’s innings, in which only Zazai passed fifty. Zimbabwe then began their second innings positively, reaching 15 without loss before Ben Curran fell to a diving catch by Ikram Alikhil behind the stumps.
Taylor again held the innings together, adding 33 with Innocent Kaia and 55 with captain Brian Bennett. Zimbabwe moved to 45 for 1 after 17 overs and passed 50 shortly afterwards, and at tea they were 83 for 2 after 30 overs, with Taylor on 18 and Bennett on 8. The pair went on to share a half-century stand from 91 deliveries, taking Zimbabwe beyond 100 and putting the match further out of Afghanistan’s reach. Taylor reached his fifty from 89 balls with five fours, his second fifty-plus score of the match after his first-innings century.
Afghanistan’s bowlers kept the contest alive late in the day, Yamin Ahmadzai, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi taking two wickets each as Zimbabwe slipped to 169 for 7 after Taylor’s dismissal. Brad Evans fell for 2, caught behind off Sharifi, and Tafadzwa Tsiga will resume on 8 from 41 balls with Graeme Cremer yet to score.
With three wickets in hand and two days remaining, Zimbabwe are firmly in control of the second Test and will look to extend their lead well beyond 300 on Monday morning, while Afghanistan need quick wickets to keep their victory target within reach.
Related: https://t20star.com/taylors-119-and-muzarabanis-three-for-leave-afghanistan-159-6-and-trailing-by-180-on-day-2-in-sharjah/ and https://t20star.com/taylor-and-kaia-hit-96-each-as-zimbabwe-reach-250-for-5-on-day-one-of-sharjah-decider/
