HARARE: Robiul Islam claimed five wickets as Bangladesh took control of the second test against Zimbabwe at the close of day three at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Bangladesh had reached 163 for five in their second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 272 in the match.
The platform was laid by a fiery bowling display from Robiul Islam, who returned figures of five for 85 as the tourists dismissed Zimbabwe for 282 in their first innings.
Shakib Al Hasan then scored his second half-century of the game with a fighting 59, while captain Mushfiqur Rahim did likewise as he finished the day unbeaten on 50.
With two days still remaining and the weather set fair, it seems likely there will be a result on a wicket that is still offering plenty of assistance to the pace bowlers.
“The first hour in the morning the wicket always does a little bit more and I am hoping we can come back,” Zimbabwe fast bowler Shingi Masakadza told a TV interview. “I was able to extract some good bounce with the new ball and get it to move. There is enough in the wicket.” Zimbabwe resumed in the morning on 158 for four overnight and were boosted by a career-best 86 from Elton Chigumbura.
He received good support from wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami (42) to take Zimbabwe past the follow-on mark and then post a first innings score that they would have felt kept them in the game.
That was certainly the case when they reduced Bangladesh to 18 for three in their second innings, but Shakib and Mushfiqur added 84 for the fifth wicket to put the tourists in command.
“We don’t want them to get much more than a 300 lead, that would make it very difficult for us,” Masakadza admitted.
SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh (first innings): 391
Zimbabwe (first innings):
V. Sibanda c Mushfiqur b Robiul 10
R. Chakabva c Mushfiqur b Robiul 12
H. Masakadza b Shakib 14
B. Taylor c Shakib b Sohag 36
M. Waller c Shakib b Sohag 32
E. Chigumbura b Robiul 86
R. Mutumbami lbw b Robiul 42
G. Cremer not out 11
K. Meth c Mushfiqur b Sohag 16
S. Masakadza c Mushfiqur b Robiul 5
K. Jarvis b Sohag 0
Extras: 18
Total: 282
Fall of wkts: 1-23, 2-26, 3-45, 4-97, 5-163, 6-248, 7-257, 8-274, 9-281, 10-282.
Bowling: Robiul 33-11-85-5; Sajidul 16-5-48-0; Ziaur 7-3-8-0; Shakib 19-4-66-1; Sohag 19-1-59-4; Ashraful 2-2-0-0.
Bangladesh (second innings):
T. Iqbal c Mutumbami b S Masakadza 7
J. Islam c Mutumbami b S Masakadza 2
M. Ashraful lbw Jarvis 4
M. Haque c H Masakadza b S Masakadza 29
S. Al Hasan c Mutumbami b H Masakadza 59
M. Rahim not out 50
N. Hossain not out 6
Extras: 6
Total: (for 5 wkts) 163
Fall of wkts: 1-7, 2-12, 3-18, 4-65, 5-149.
Bowling: K Jarvis 12-0-52-1 (nb2), S Masakadza 14-2-33-3
(nb1), G Cremer 8-1-34-0, E Chigumbura 10-0-32-0, H Masakadza
5-0-10-1 (w1).
