Captain Toby Roland-Jones led from the front as England Lions battled for a first-innings lead on day two against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.
The Middlesex bowler - the Lions' third skipper in four games - took five for 73 as the Afghans reached 273 for nine, trailing by just six.
Roland-Jones received good support from Middlesex team-mate Ollie Rayner and Surrey's Tom Curran, who each took two wickets and an excellent catch in another impressive Lions fielding display.
The day began with the Lions failing to add to their overnight 279, losing last man Jack Leach to Yamin Ahmadzai.
The Lions started well with the ball as Roland-Jones removed Javed Ahmadi in the fifth over but from there on it proved a battle.
Raimat Shah (33) and Ihsanullah (25) began the recovery by putting on 48 for the second wicket and further resistance came from captain Asghar Stanikzai (51), Mohammad Nabi (51) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (40).
Rashid Khan was unbeaten on 25 at the close as Afghanistan pushed towards parity.
Source: PA
