Zim fight back after Mahmudullah, Taskin masterclass
After Mahmudullah Riyad and Taskin Ahmed brilliance helped Bangladesh post a mammoth first innings total, Zimbabwe started strong in their response as the hosts ended the second day of their one-off Test in Harare at 114 for 1 after 41 overs.
Zimbabwe, however, still trail by 354 runs as a record 191-run ninth-wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Taskin helped the visitors post a colossal 468 in their first innings despite a horrible failure by the top order batsmen on the opening day.
Zimbabwe started cautiously in their response, with openers Milton Shumba and Takudzwanashe Kaitano biding their time to negotiate the initial pace threat of Bangladesh quicks Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain.
The Zimbabwean opening duo stitched together a partnership of 61 runs before premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan trapped in front Shumba after his patient 83-ball 41. That was the only wicket that Zimbabwe lost on the day as skipper Brendan Taylor and Kaitano remained unbeaten on 37 and 33 to ensure the hosts end the day on a high.
Earlier, having resumed the day on 294 for eight, Bangladesh crossed the 450-run mark, a feat that seemed unlikely after the top order collapsed miserably on the opening day of the game.
The two overnight batsmen -- Taskin and Mahmudullah -- dictated terms as the duo etched their names on the record book after stringing together the highest ninth-wicket stand in Tests for Bangladesh. Their record 191-run ninth-wicket stand is also now the second-highest partnership for that wicket in Tests as they fell just four short of the 23-year-old world record of 195-run ninth-wicket stand between South Africa's Mark Boucher and Pat Symcox during a Test against Pakistan in 1998.
Both Taskin and Mahmudullah notched up their career-best Test scores. Taskin, who came to bat at 10, fell after an inspiring 75 off 134 balls that included 11 boundaries, while Mahmudullah made a strong statement on his return to Bangladesh's Test squad following a 17-month forced exile with an unbeaten 150 off 278 deliveries, laced with 17 boundaries and a maximum.