Leg-spinner Rashid Khan took six wickets in a row to put Afghanistan on the verge of victory in the series-deciding second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe were 205-8 in their second innings at stumps on day four -- 72 runs off their target heading into the final day of a seesaw contest at Queens Sports Club.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rashid, who took 4-94 in the first innings, finished the day with 6-66 in the second.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A star of T20 cricket but playing in only his sixth Test, it was Rashid's fifth five-wicket haul, the third time he has taken 10 wickets in a match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ismat Alam, playing in his first Test, struck 101 to propel the tourists to 363 all out in their second innings and a lead of 276.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sikandar Raza and captain Craig Ervine put on 58 for the fifth wicket to leave Zimbabwe on 157-5 when Rashid dealt a massive blow to the home team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Raza tried to loft a short delivery from the 26-year-old spinner and Shahidullah Kamal took a simple catch at silly mid-off. The all-rounder departed for 38 from 83 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rashid had already removed Dion Myers (6) and followed Raza's dsmissal by bowling Sean Williams (16) and Brian Bennett (0) in the space of three balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Williams, who has been battling a back injury, departed after mistiming an attempted sweep and Bennett failed to cope with a ball which pitched on middle and straightened enough to fly past the edge and rattle the stumps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe's hopes on Monday will rest on 39-year-old Ervine who was unbeaten on 53 at stumps, having struck a six and four fours off 97 deliveries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Alam atoned for a first-innings duck with a century before pulling a shot to mid-wicket where Takudzwanashe Kaitano took the catch. His 181-ball innings included nine fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Alam was among the victims of Blessing Muzarabani (6-95) and fellow Zimbabwe quick Richard Ngarava (3-76) also enjoyed success.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are both chasing a first Test victory since beating each other in Abu Dhabi four years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nBrief scores<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan 157 (Rashid Khan 25; S. Raza 3-30, N. Nyamhuri 3-42) and 363 in 113.5 overs (Rahmat Shah 139, Ismat Alam 101; B.Muzarabani 6-95, R. Ngarava 3-76) v Zimbabwe 243 (C. Ervine 75, S. Raza 61, S. Williams 49; Rashid Khan 4-94, Yamin Ahmadzai 3-62) and 205-8 in 66 overs (S.Ervine 53 not out, B. Curran 38, S. Raza 38; Rashid Khan 6-66)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Match situation: Zimbabwe need 73 runs to win with two wickets standing<\/p>\r\n\r\n