Shahriar Nafees notched up his fifth half-century in Test cricket to stage a fightback for Bangladesh leading them to 107-3 at the stumps on the second day of the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Bangladesh were in danger of conceding a huge first innings deficit when debutant pace bowler Brian Vitori dismissed both openers Tamim Iqbal (15) and Imrul Kayes (4) to leave the tourists reeling at 36 for 2 before Shahriar and the experienced Mohammad Ashraful stemmed the rot.
The duo added 66 in their third-wicket partnership, with Nafees contributing highest 50.
Luck was evidently on Nafees’ side as he edged a Kyle Jarvis delivery between the slips and gully for his third boundary of the innings before being dropped at third slip by opener Tino Mawoyo in the very next ball.
While Nafees rode his luck as a couple of edges narrowly missed the slip cordon, Ashraful in sharp contrast looked rock solid on his way to 34 not out.
Earlier, resuming the second day on 264-2, Hamilton Masakadza and skipper Brendan Taylor started cautiously to take Zimbabwe’s score past 300.
And just when they looked to take the attack to the Bangladeshis, pace bowler Robiul Islam provided the much-needed breakthrough, removing dangerman Masakadza after he recorded a well deserved century – his second in Test cricket.
Masakadza scored 104 off 244 balls, which included eight boundaries and a six, before edging a full length ball from Robiul which was taken smartly by Imrul Kayes at first slip to give the seamer from Satkhira his first Test wicket.
The wicket of Masakadza gave the Bangladeshi bowlers the impetus to impose themselves on the Zimbabwean batsmen as wickets began to fall at regular intervals.
Craig Ervine could manage only six runs before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Mahmudullah after the off-spinner was given the ball for the first time in the innings on the second day.
Taylor, who made a patient 71 from 164 balls, was next to go after seemingly losing his composure as he attempted to cut a short delivery from Robiul but only managing a thick edge which was taken by Mushfiqur Rahim. Robiul reaped the rewards of maintaining a much fuller length throughout day two with two wickets for 106. Another notable factor on the second day was the Tigers’ improved display in the field which laid the foundation for the spinners to mop up the tail.
Former Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu was the only batsman to offer any resistance against a rampant Tigers’ bowling attack before falling to Sakib for 23.
The Bangladesh skipper ran through Zimbabwe’s lower-order with his left-arm spin to return with figures of 3-62 while Rubel Hossain took the wicket of Raymond Price to add to his two wickets overnight to finish with 3-84.
Source: Internet
1 comments:
Well done tigers
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