Leg-spinner Jubair Hossain stole the show on Friday to complete his maiden five-wicket haul giving Bangladesh a shot for the win and a 3-0 sweep in the third Test against Zimbabwe in Chittagong. Jubair had remained under the shades of Sakib al Hasan and Taijul Islam in the first two Tests, despite making crucial breakthroughs, but he was not prepared to play the second or third fiddle once again.
The 19-year old prodigy chose the third Test to make a name of his own, finishing with 5-96, which helped Bangladesh to dismiss Zimbabwe for 374 runs and get a sizeable 129-run first innings lead.
Bangladesh can now realistically hope for a win, reaching 23-0 at close on the third day to stretch their lead to 152 overnight.
They won from a tougher position in the second Test at Khulna when Zimbabwe had five wickets in hand at the end of third day’s play with two set batsmen at the crease.
Jubair ensured Bangladesh more time to set a target in Chittagong where batting is still relatively easier despite the wicket developing some cracks to give spinners a slight advantage.
Zimbabwe successfully negotiated Bangladesh’s two main spinners Sakib and Taijul to keep them wicketless in the first two sessions but Jubair and Shafiul Islam did not give them a chance to relax.
Shafiul, who claimed 2-50, played a big part providing two breakthroughs at a time when it appeared that the momentum was swinging towards Zimbabwe.
He first ended Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza’s record 160-run stand for the second-wicket and then came to rescue Bangladesh when Elton Chigumbura and Regis Chakabva put 113 runs for the sixth wicket.
Resuming on 113-1, Raza and Masakadza continued in the same vein to surpass the second wicket record of Mark Dekker and Alastair Campbell, who put on 135 against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 1993.
Shafiul trapped Masakadza leg–before for 81 to stop them making any further damage and three overs later Jubair changed the complexion of the game with two wickets in three balls.
Jubair allured Brendan Taylor to play a lofted drive but the Zimbabwe skipper could only connect the ball with the bottom of his bat, holing out a catch at long-off.
Taijul Islam raced 20 yards from mid-off and barely avoided a clash with Tamim Iqbal to complete the catch, sending back the out of form Taylor for just one run.
Before Taylor could find his seat in the dressing room, it was Raza’s turn, who, surprised by the bounce off the ball, gave a catch to Mahmudullah at slip for 82.
Zimbabwe went for lunch with 200-4 and Jubair rattled Craig Ervine’s (14) stumps on resumption with a full toss ball to leave them wobbling at 209-5.
Any hope for Bangladesh to expose the tail, however, was quickly dashed by Chigumbura and Chakabva, who rode on their luck to form a big partnership to take Zimbabwe past the follow on mark.
Bangladesh needed another sharp delivery from Shafiul to end their resistance.
Once he trapped Chakabva leg-before for 65, Sakib and Taijul decided to join the business.
Sakib made Richmond Mutumbami his first wicket of the game trapping him leg-before for 20 and Taijul had next batsman Shingi Masakadza caught by Mahmudullah at short cover for a duck.
Jubair returned for another spell to make Chigumbura a catch of Mahmudullah at slip for 88 and completed his five-wicket haul along with the wicket of last man Natsai M’shangwe.
Zimbabwe’s top-scorer Chigumbura, who has now his career best innings surpassing his previous highest 86 against the same opponents in 2013, survived at least three chances.
Mahmudullah gave him a reprieve at 19 and 35 off Rubel Hossain and Taijul respectively and catch fell inches short of fielder Rubel at mid off of the bowling of Shafiul.
-With New Age input
