Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was unbeaten on 179 as Afghanistan trailed Zimbabwe by 71 runs after a rain-shortened fourth day of the primary Take a look at in Bulawayo on Sunday.
He and double-centurion Rahmat Shah placed on 364 for the third wicket earlier than the latter was out having made a career-best 234 on the Queens Sports activities Membership.
Zimbabwe received the toss and posted a report 586 in its first innings. Afghanistan was 515-3 in reply when rain intervened, stopping any play after 1pm native time.
The umpires waited almost 4 hours earlier than calling the play off, strengthening the chance of a attract a match dominated by batters.
Extra rain is predicted for the ultimate day on Monday as each groups chase a primary Take a look at victory since beating one another three years in the past in a sequence in Abu Dhabi.
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Shah, 231 in a single day, added three runs to his private finest earlier than getting an out of doors edge off Take a look at debutant Newman Nyamhuri’s bowling. Ben Curran caught the ball within the gully.
The departure of Shah, who struck three sixes and 23 fours in a 424-ball stand, introduced no respite for the six-man Zimbabwe assault.
Cautious Shahidi continued to bat successfully whereas hitting 18 fours. He’s 22 runs wanting a career-best Take a look at complete after making an unbeaten 200 in opposition to Zimbabwe three years in the past.
The skipper obtained good assist from Afsar Zazai, who was unbeaten on 46. The wicketkeeper confronted 87 deliveries and scored a six and three fours.
Medium-pacer Trevor Gwandu took the wicket of opener Sediqullah Atal for 3. However he was the most costly of the house bowlers, conceding 107 runs.
Afghanistan received the Twenty20 and one-day worldwide sequence in Zimbabwe forward of the primary of two Assessments. The second is about to begin on January 2.
Temporary scores
Zimbabwe 586 in 135.2 overs (Sean Williams 154, Brian Bennett 113 not out, Craig Ervine 101, Ben Curran 68; Allah Ghazanfar 3-127) v Afghanistan 515-3 in 156 overs (Rahmat Shah 234, Hashmatullah Shahidi 179 not out, Afsar Zazai 46 not out).
Rain stopped play