Zimbabwe make Tigers toil

There must be a growing sense of unease in the Bangladesh camp as the pitch for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Harare was looking better for batsmen as the match wears on. The Tigers' think tank decided to risk playing only two pacers and were paying the price for it as the bowlers toiled away on day three with Zimbabwe at 209 for 2. Bangladesh had earlier yesterday put on 468 runs in their first innings.

Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed bowled just one five-over spell together -- the very first spell of the day -- and the former would go onto complete six overs in succession, becoming less efficient and more prone to giving away runs at the death end of that first spell.

Taskin would then come in and bowl a five-over spell with a spinner at the other end but the pacers not being able to bowl in tandem meant there was no pressure applied with spin not being as effective in these conditions. Taskin got the ball to move in just a bit with the angle, wrapping the pads a few times and inducing a few appeals but the deliveries were mostly going down the leg side. There was not intense period of pressure applied by the tourists, a stark difference to how Zimbabwe dominated proceedings on day One.

Zimbabwe batters found the Bangladesh spinners easy to handle with Brendan Taylor in particular going after Shakib Al Hasan. Taylor picked up runs at a quick pace but lost his patience in the 57th over of the innings when he looked to go over square-leg to Mehedi Hasan Miraz and gifted his wicket. Taylor, who hit 81 off 92, laced with 12 fours and a six, was the only wicket to fall in the first session as Zimbabwe added 95 runs in 26 overs.

Takudzwanashe Kaitano became the sixth Zimbabwe batsman to hit fifty on debut as the youngster showed patience and perseverance during a 200-ball 63 not out before the players went to lunch on day Three.