Hamilton Masakadza made the most of Bangladesh’s sloppy fielding to smash an unbeaten 154 as Zimbabwe seized the initiative in the second Test at Khulna on Wednesday.
The visitors effectively wiped out the chance of a win for the Tigers, reaching 331-5 at sumps on the third day to trail the home side by only 102 runs in the first innings.
Barring a dramatic collapse, Bangladesh are unlikely to impose any further authority in the game which has just two days left with the visitors’ first innings still incomplete.
Bangladesh’s spinners created enough chances to put Zimbabwe on the back foot, but fielders spurned it to allow the visiting batsmen to buy their time and settle in the middle.
The main culprit was Shamsur Rahman, who alone dropped Masakadza three times at 15, 19 and 74 and the batsman utilised the chances in both hands to stay unbeaten for the entire day.
The right-hander, who had only one fifty in his previous six Test innings in Bangladesh, shared 142 runs with Regis Chakabva in an unbroken sixth wicket partnership to put Zimbabwe firmly in control.
Chakabva, who is 75 not out, also had his share of luck as Mushfiqur Rahim missed a simple stumping chance off Sakib al Hasan when the batsman was on nine.
Chakabva was also reprieved by the Decision Review System after he was given out leg-before off Sakib on nine.
Sakib, who scored a brilliant 137 on the second day and added 132 runs with fellow centurion Tamim Iqbal (109), was outstanding once again with the ball picking up the wickets of Brendan Taylor (37), Craig Ervine (17) and Elton Chigumbura (one) in the post lunch session.
They put Zimbabwe in danger of follow-on with their fifth wicket falling for 189 runs, but Masakadza and Chakabva brought Zimbabwe back on track with their epic stand.
Masakadza also marginally survived a leg-before appeal on 68 off Sakib, which Bangladesh reviewed only to see the impact outside the off-stump, meaning the original not out, decision was upheld.
Masakadza grew his confidence after he brought up his third Test century with a boundary off Sakib through third man.
A six over the head of Taijul Islam, the only other to get some success, and the reverse sweep that brought his 150 only testified his level of confidence in the final session.
Masakadza and Chakabva entirely dominated the final session when Bangladesh even failed to create a chance.
-With New Age input
