NAIROBI, Dec 5: Kenya holds a 214-run lead over the touring Zimbabwe A side going into the final day of the second three-day cricket match at the Simba Union club.

Set a formidable 424, Zimbabwe, which lost the first three dayer by an innings and 23 runs, declared on 278 for the loss of seven wickets in a bid to avoid the follow-on.

Zimbabwe had got off to a flying start when openers Mark Vermeulen and Gavin Rennie put on 72 for the first wicket.

After the fall of Rennie, bowled by the Kenya under-19 spin bowler Jadavji Laxman on his debut for the senior team, Vermuelen found another able partner in Alistair Campbell and the pair went on to share a third-wicket stand of 84 runs.

It was only after the Obuya brothers, David and Collins had succeeded in tearing apart the Zimbabwe top and middle order, removing Vermeulen and Guy Whittal (58), that the tourists realised they were facing the prospect of a another defeat that they declared their innings, allowing Kenya to bat again.

The hosts were ahead by 146 runs from their first innings and added a further 68 for no loss in their second innings to bring their total to 214 at the close.

The Kenya first innings featured a 178 by captain Maurice Odumbe, who only managed another seven runs to his overnight total, before being adjudged leg before off the bowling of Brighton Watambwa.