The United Arab Emirates openers dug in after the team was asked to follow-on against Afghanistan, to keep the team fighting at the end of the third day of its ICC Intercontinental Cup game in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Fighting half-centuries in the second innings from Rohan Mustafa, skipper, and Chirag Suri helped UAE close on 201 for 3 in 65.2 overs trailing by 112 runs. Rameez Shahzad (18) was holding the fort alongside Saqlain Haider.

Rohan Mustafa, the skipper, compiled a patient 68 before being dismissed by Mohammad Nabi, the offspinner, while Chirag Suri (81) was castled by Zahir Khan, the legspinner. Together, the duo put on 146 for the opening wicket. Mustafa’s knock contained eight boundaries, while Suri’s included ten hits to the fence.

Coming in at No.3, Shaiman Anwar (21 off 45 balls) was unable to capitalise after getting a start and was the last wicket to fall just two overs before close of play.

Earlier, resuming on 100 for 5 in their first innings, UAE had no answers to Zahir, as he picked up three wickets, while Rahmat Shah, the legspinner, and Dawlat Zadran, the medium pacer, took a wicket each to end UAE’s innings at 197 from 64.5 overs, 313 runs behind Afghanistan’s first-innings score of 510 for 9 declared.

For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan (3 for 69) and Zahir (3 for 30) were the pick of the bowlers in the first dig, while Dawlat picked up two wickets.