Rahmat Shah's 173 lifts Afghanistan to 514 and a slender lead over Zimbabwe in Sharjah

Rahmat Shah's 173 carried Afghanistan to 514 and a first-innings lead of 10 runs before Zimbabwe began again in Sharjah

Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah batted deep into the fourth day for 173 from 347 balls, lifting his side to 514 in reply to Zimbabwe's 504 and reducing the first Test in Sharjah to a single day of cricket.

Afghanistan resumed on 402 for 7, still 102 behind, and added 112 for their last three wickets to edge in front. The lead was only ten runs, but it came after more than two days in the field.

Zimbabwe, who chose to bat on the opening morning, are 34 for 1 in their second innings and 24 runs ahead, with Innocent Kaia the only man out.

Rahmat Shah bats Afghanistan level

Rahmat began the fourth morning unbeaten on 94, having seen Afghanistan through the third day, and moved to his hundred without alarm.

He faced 347 balls in all and struck 14 fours and three sixes, shepherding the lower order past a total that had looked a long way off on the second evening.

The innings ended when he was stumped by Tafadzwa Tsiga off the leg spin of Graeme Cremer. By then the deficit had gone and Afghanistan were in front.

Nyamhuri finishes with five

Newman Nyamhuri was the pick of the Zimbabwe attack, finishing with 5-82 from 30.4 overs in a long spell spread across three days.

He had struck in the opening overs of the innings, having Abdul Malik caught behind for 2 to leave Afghanistan 14 for 1.

His figures stood at 4-62 at the close of the third day, and the fifth wicket followed on the fourth. Cremer's dismissal of Rahmat was the one that finally closed the innings out.

A debut hundred and Atal's 105

The platform was laid by Rahmanullah Zadran, who made 113 from 188 balls on Test debut, and Sediqullah Atal, who made 105 from 213.

The pair came together at 14 for 1 and were unbeaten together on 99 at the close of the second day, with Afghanistan 113 for 1 and the follow-on still a long way off.

Zadran had reached his maiden Test fifty from 78 balls on the way, and both went on to hundreds on the third day.

Both were out before the innings was done, leaving Rahmat to finish the job with the tail.

Taylor and Bennett set Zimbabwe's total

Brendan Taylor made 131 from 168 balls with 14 fours and four sixes, his seventh Test century, to anchor the opening day.

Captain Brian Bennett followed with 128 from 206 balls, his first Test hundred as captain, before Qais Ahmad had him out with the total on 437 for 7.

Wessly Madhevere's 54 was worth 96 for the sixth wicket alongside Bennett, Tsiga made 44 from 81 balls, and Cremer finished unbeaten on 34 as Zimbabwe reached 504 in 134.3 overs.

Mohammad Saleem took 3-82 and Qais Ahmad 3-120 for Afghanistan. Zia-ur-Rehman sent down 46 overs for his two wickets, and Hashmatullah Shahidi chipped in with 1-31 from 12.

One day left in Sharjah

Kaia fell lbw to Zia-ur-Rehman inside the first nine overs of the second innings, with Ben Curran and Taylor at the crease thereafter.

The match has produced 1,052 runs for the loss of 21 wickets so far, with both first innings lasting beyond 134 overs on a surface that has offered the bowlers little.

The sides return on Monday for the final day, with Zimbabwe 24 ahead and nine second-innings wickets standing.

Scorecard: Zimbabwe 504 (134.3 ov) and 34 for 1 (8.4 ov); Afghanistan 514 (169.4 ov). Zimbabwe lead by 24 runs.