Atal and Rahmanullah centuries lift Afghanistan to 402-7 against Zimbabwe

Sediqullah Atal and Rahmanullah Zadran scored centuries as Afghanistan reached 402-7 at the close of the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah on Saturday. BBC Sport's completed day-three scorecard showed Afghanistan trailing Zimbabwe's first-innings 504 by 102 runs, with captain Rahmat Shah unbeaten on 94 and three wickets remaining.

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Atal and Rahmanullah supplied the innings' largest partnership, adding 206 for the second wicket after Abdul Malik fell for two with the total on 14. Atal made 105 from 213 deliveries, including six fours and three sixes, before Graeme Cremer had him caught by wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga. Rahmanullah went on to 113 from 188 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six before being run out by Wessly Madhevere with Afghanistan on 251-3.

Zimbabwe then removed two middle-order batters cheaply. Newman Nyamhuri dismissed Hashmatullah Shahidi for six and Shahidullah Kamal without scoring, leaving Afghanistan 275-5. Those wickets followed Nyamhuri's early removal of Malik, giving the bowler three of the first five wickets and keeping Zimbabwe ahead despite the two hundreds at the top of Afghanistan's order.

Rahmat helped rebuild the reply alongside Ikram Alikhil, who contributed 40 from 83 balls in a sixth-wicket stand of 65. Cremer ended that partnership when Ben Curran caught Ikram. Qais Ahmad then added 27 before becoming Nyamhuri's fourth wicket, with the total at 395. Rahmat finished six short of his own century after facing 194 deliveries, while Zia Ur Rahman Akbar was unbeaten without scoring.

Nyamhuri ended the day with 4-62 from 23 overs, including six maidens. Cremer took 2-145 across 41 overs, accounting for Atal and Ikram. Blessing Muzarabani remained wicketless after conceding 73 runs in 26 overs, while Madhevere, Antum Naqvi and Brian Bennett also bowled without taking a wicket. Afghanistan had faced 125 overs by stumps.

Zimbabwe's total had been built around Brendan Taylor's 131 and Bennett's 128 after they chose to bat. Madhevere added 54 and Tsiga 44 before the innings ended after 134.3 overs. Mohammad Saleem and Qais took three wickets apiece for Afghanistan. The reply has narrowed Zimbabwe's advantage substantially, but the visitors retain a first-innings lead with two scheduled days left in the match.