Bangladesh made a quick start to make up for some lost ground after the bowlers toiled hard to dismiss Zimbabwe in their first innings in the first Test at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
The Tigers reached 95-1 in-25 overs they got a chance to bat on the second day, which saw Zimbabwe dominating again to reach 389 runs having resumed the play at 217-4.
Jahirul Islam, dropped by Graeme Cremer on
two at slip, remained unbeaten on 38 with former captain Mohammad Ashraful, who also survived a close lbw shout, 23 not out.
Shahriar Nafees was the only batsman to be dismissed when he got a leading edge off a Kyle Jarvis delivery to be caught at point after making 29 off 39 balls with four fours.
The Tigers had no choice but to go for their shots after Zimbabwe batted more than 152 overs and stretched their innings until after the tea break on the second day to kill some time, which could prove crucial.
The visitors got two early breakthroughs on the second morning when Rubel Hossain had Elton Chigumbura caught and bowled for 12 before debutant wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami (11) edged Robiul Islam behind the stumps.
However, any hope for a quick dismissal of Zimbabwe innings faded away with Taylor digging deep at the wicket to add 66 runs to his overnight score of 105.
Robiul should have
got the wicket of Taylor, who was hit plumb
in front while batting on 116, but for reasons unknown to anyone umpire Tony Hill remained unmoved.
A relieved Taylor showed some strong determination later and found a worthy partner in
Cremer, who added 106 runs with his skipper for the seventh wicket much to the frustration of the visiting side.
The frustration was so deep that skipper
Mushfiqur Rahim finally turned to Sakib al Hasan, otherwise team’s main spinner, who was supposed to only bat in this Test match.
However, Sakib risked aggravating his injury to bowl seven overs without any luck.
A superb reflex catch by Mahmudullah, who
dived to his right at slip to grab the ball in one hand inches above the
ground to end the dogged partnership of Taylor and Cremer.
The relief in Tigers’ faces was clear to see as Sohag Gazi took the wicket of Cremer, who made his career best 42.
Luck finally smiled on Bangladesh as they managed to get rid of Taylor in the next over with Enamul Haque Jr taking the prized scalp of Zimbabwe captain.
The ball took a leading edge and flew to
wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to hit him on his shoulder before the
Bangladesh skipper took the catch in second attempt.
Taylor, who stayed more than eight hours at the crease, faced 324 balls for his career best innings of 171 runs.
Bangladesh’s agony, however, was not to be ended so quickly as Zimbabwe tail-enders wagged their tail and added few quick runs to take their innings total close to 400-run mark.
Kegan Meth and debutant Shingi Masakadza both scored 21 runs
before Enamul and Sohag ended their onslaughts in successive overs and bring to an end the long frustration.
Robiul finished with 3-84 while Enamul, playing his first Test match in four years, also claimed three wickets giving away 133 runs.
Rubel Hossain chipped in with two wickets.
brief scores
Stumps, Day 2
Zimbabwe 389 in 152.3 overs (B Taylor 171, M Waller 55, G Cremer 42, H Masakadza 25, S Masakadza 21, K Meth 21; R Islam 3-84, E Haque Jr 3-133, R Hossain 2-87) v
Bangladesh 95-1 in 25 overs (J Islam 38 not out, S Nafees 29, M Ashraful 23 not out; K Jarvis 1-39).
-With New Age input
