Young leg-spinner Zubair Hossain and paceman Shahadat Hossain shared five wickets between them to put Bangladesh A team in control over Zimbabwe A team in their second four-day match at Fatullah on Tuesday. The visitors reached 91-6 at close on the second day, still trailing Bangladesh A team by 167 runs after the home side posted 258 runs in their first innings in the rain-interrupted game.
Opener Shahriar Nafees fell three runs short of a deserving century, but his 97 off 140 balls, which included 14 fours and a six, was enough for the hosts to put a commendable score.
Nafees shared 155 runs in the opening stand with Shadman Islam after the duo resumed second day’s play on 88-0. Nafees was the first man to be dismissed, edging occasional off-break bowler Vusimuzi Sibanda behind the stumps.
Shadman made 60 before he was run out by Tinotenda Mutombodzi with a direct throw. The young under-19 opener, who played 176 balls and struck 10 fours, added just 30 runs in more than 20 overs with Roqibul Hassan for the second wicket partnership.
Bangladesh A collapsed after Roqibul departed for 27 runs facing 112 balls as Sibanda completed his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket to finish with 5-55.
The home side hit back quickly thanks to Shahadat and Kamrul Islam leaving Zimbabwe A 3-12. Mark Vermeulen and Brian Cheri repaired the damage somewhat before leg-spinner Zubaer struck.
Zubaer claimed three wickets, including two wickets in three balls to show why selectors had considered him for the recent Test series against West Indies. Cheri, 39 not out overnight, hit him with two fours and two sixes in an over to take 20 runs that made his 3-40 bowling figure looking somewhat expensive.
-With New Age input
