DHAKA, 18 January 2005 — Bangladesh face a daunting victory target of 374 on the last day of the second and final Test today after Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu scored a fine maiden Test century in yesterday’s fourth day.
At the close, Bangladesh were 98 without loss from 57 overs with Nafis Iqbal on 55 and Javed Omar on 36. Their opening partnership was Bangladesh’s highest in 36 Tests.
Omar was dropped on five by Hamilton Masakadza off Christopher Mpofu in the third over when the score was seven.
Bangladesh recorded their previous record opening partnership of 91 in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Chittagong.
Earlier, the tourists were bowled out for 286 in their second innings just after lunch, with Taibu stroking 19 fours and two sixes in his 153.
Enamul Haque Junior was Bangladesh’s best bowler, taking Zimbabwe’s last four wickets to finish with five for 105.
The 18-year-old, the man-of-the-match in the first Test when the home team recorded their first win in 35 attempts, became the first Bangladesh player to take 10 wickets in a match when he trapped Graeme Cremer lbw for nought.Zimbabwe, 1-0 down in the two-match series, resumed on 203 for six and soon lost Tinashe Panyangara (six) who was stumped by Khaled Mashud off Haque.
Taibu, who made 92 in the first Test and 85 not out in the first innings in Dhaka, put on 65 with Douglas Hondo for the ninth wicket, Hondo contributing three before being caught by Aftab Ahmed off Haque.
The left-arm bowler struck again to end Taibu’s innings, caught by Tapash Baisya after facing 292 balls. Zimbabwe have just returned from suspension after the International Cricket Council ruled the team were too weak to play Test cricket.
