After setting an imposing target of 443, Bangladesh's spinners picked up the wickets of the openers to take a vice - like grip on the proceedings at the close of play on Day 4 of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Dhaka. The visitors were 76 for 2, needing a further 367 for an unlikely win.
When Bangladesh declared their second innings at 224 for 6, they would have hoped to make early incisions. However, Hamilton Masakadza and Brian Chari played with a degree of confidence to navigate through the initial phase. The duo was also helped by fluffed chances. In just the second over of the innings, Mehidy Hasan at first slip dropped a sharp chance to give Chari a reprieve.
Khaled Ahmed, who had a catch dropped even in the first innings, then forced Masakadza to edge one to the slip cordon, but Mehidy at gully grassed an easy catch. To make matters worse for Bangladesh, in the sixth over, Liton Das grabbed one at silly point, but Masakadza took the review and replays suggested the opener didn't eke out an edge. As a result, the decision was overturned.
Once Masakadza and Chari paddled through the tough period, the duo started to play with a touch of freedom. The way Chari lofted Taijul into the downtown territories and then cut the same bowler indicated that the opener was feeling confident about his game. Masakadza also looked to break free and essayed a fine on drive off Khaled in the 13th over.
Unfortunately for the visitors, at the fag end of the day, Mehidy dismissed the Zimbabwe captain. Masakadza could only eke out an inside edge that deflected via his pad and straight to the fielder at forward short leg. Taijul then followed up the efforts of his spin colleague by sending Chari back to the hut via an LBW. The opener took the review but to no avail. Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams ensured that Zimbabwe wouldn't lose another wicket before bad light forced umpires to take the bails off.
Bangladesh were able to set Zimbabwe a massive target on the back of Mahmudullah's resolute 101 not out. The hosts, who decided not to enforce the follow on, were in early trouble at 25 for 4. Kyle Jarvis, Zimbabwe's spearhead, hit the seam consistently to pick up the scalps of Liton Das and Imrul Kayes. Meanwhile, Donald Tiripano sent the first innings double centurion Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque back to the pavilion.
At that juncture, Mohammad Mithun (67) and Mahmudullah joined forces to steady the innings. Mithun also notched up a fifty on his Test debut before he was dislodged by Raza. Once Mithun was dismissed, the Bangladesh skipper pressed the accelerator pedal and completed his second Test hundred. The way he thumped Sikandar Raza and Brandon Mavuta in the 48th and 50th over respectively signalled his change of approach. As soon as Mahmudullah reached his hundred, Bangladesh also declared their innings.
By the close of Day 4, Bangladesh's spinners were extracting enough life out of the surface. The home side would certainly fancy their chances of emerging victorious and levelling the series.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 522/7 decl. (Mushfiqur Rahim 219* Mominul Haque 161; Kyle Jarvis 5 - 71) and 224/6 decl. (Mahmudullah 101*; Kyle Jarvis 2 - 27) lead Zimbabwe 304 (Brendan Taylor 110, Peter Moor 83; Taijul Islam 5 - 107) and 76/2 (Brian Chari 43; Taijul Islam 1 - 34) by 366 runs.
Hello EnglishHello English
