Tigers in the driving seat
Sensible and composed batting helped Bangladesh build a platform for a big first-innings lead as the hosts reached 240 for three and were trailing by just 25 runs at the end of the second day of the lone Test against Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Bangladesh dominated all three sessions, first with the ball as they bundled out Zimbabwe for 265 runs in the first hour of the day and followed it by a collective approach with the bat.
Skipper Mominul Haque finally found some form with a Test fifty and remained unbeaten on 79 alongside the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim on 32 at the other end. Both players will be eager to score big when they resume on the third day.
However, the Tigers faced an early blow when young opener Saif Hasan departed for eight. Playing only his second Test, Saidf was caught at the crease and poked his bat at an-away going Victor Nyauchi delivery which kissed the edge on its way to the keeper.
But since then it was all Bangladesh as opener Tamim Iqbal and young Nazmul Hossain Shanto started to open up after being watchful initially.
Nazmul looked in fine touch as he started off with a cracking cover drive after lunch while Tamim also picked up pace soon afterwards with a gorgeous straight drive off Charlton Tshuma.
The pair looked settled and added a 78-run second-wicket stand before Tamim departed for 41 after a delicate inside edge to the keeper while going for a drive against seamer Donald Tiripano, who was bowling from around the wicket.
Nazmul was kept quiet for a certain period before he reached his maiden Test fifty, while Mominul cut loose with back-to-back boundaries against off-spinner Sikandar Raza.
Things looked all set for the Tigers as Nazmul and Mominul added the second fifty-run stand of the innings before Nazmul, who was looking to score big, was dismissed in disappointing fashion.
The left-hander poked at a Charlton Tshuma delivery outside off stump, which had a bit of extra bounce, to get caught behind after scoring a well-made 71 off 139 balls, which included seven fours.
Mominul, however, remained compact and registered his 14th Test fifty while Mushfiqur was also solid as the duo made sure there were no late drama.
Earlier, Abu Jayed deserved all the plaudits as the right-arm seamer ended up with career-best bowling figures of four for 71 from 21 overs. Jayed, who had taken two wickets on the first day, put on a good display of swing bowling with a relatively new ball and removed Donald Tiripano and Ainsley Ndlovu up front.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam finally joined the party as he dismissed Tshuma with an arm ball while Regis Chakabva tried to hang in at the other end with the last batsman.
But Taijul picked up his second wicket after Chakabva went for a slog sweep only to get a top edge after scoring 30 as Zimbabwe managed to add 37 runs to their overnight score.
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