SYLHET, Nov 4, 2018 (BSS)- Visiting Zimbabwe are in a comfortable position as they took a healthy 140-run lead after the end of second day’s play as Bangladesh dismissed their first innings at 143 in reply to a Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 282 in the first Test of the two-match Test series on Sunday.
Back with a 139 runs first innings lead, Zimbabwe started their second innings two overs before the close of second day’s play and scored 1 for no loss at stumps with Hamilton Masakadza with 1 and Brian Chari with 0 on the crease as the bails were drawn for the day at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The post-lunch session turned out to be disastrous for Bangladesh as Chatara and Kyle Jarvis dismantled the hosts top-order. Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudullah Riyad all were left to the dressing room as the team scoreboard stuck at 4 for 19.
Pacer Tendai Chatara began the early inroad on Bangladesh innings by dismissing Imrul Kayes for 5 as he made him doing mistakes, just bowling outside off consistently while Liton Das perished to a loose shot off Jarvis’s delivery to fall for 9.
Chatara then left Bangladesh in clueless state, dealing a double strike sending back Nazmul Hossain (5) and skipper Mahmudullah (0), leaving Bangladesh in a deep trouble. Nazmul Hossain Shanto was panicked by the slight movement but Mahmudullah got a beautiful delivery to drag the ball on to his stump, even though he could use his feet well.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque then came into crease to stop the rot but the Zimbabwe bowlers were never in a mood to spare as Sikandar Raza took the wicket of Mominul for 11.
Mushfiqur Rahim was looking good and seemed to play a big innings in this crucial stage but he also fall for 31 off Jarvis delivery while Sean Williams joined the party picking up the wickets of Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 21.
Ariful Haque, the top scorer of Bangladesh’s dilapidated innings, failed to get any support from the other end as he remained unbeaten on 41 off 91 balls laced with three boundaries till the end of the innings.
Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza were the pick of Zimbabwe bowlers as the duo captured three Bangladesh’s wickets apiece for 19 and 35 runs respectively. They were well supported by Kyle Jarvis who captured two wickets giving away 28 runs.
Earlier, left arm spinner Taijul Islam grabbed six-wickets haul as visiting Zimbabwe dismissed their first innings at 282 against Bangladesh just before the lunch break.
The Bangladesh bowlers took full control in the first session of the second day as visitors added only 46 runs with overnight their overnight total of 236 losing the remaining five wickets.
Overnight batsman Peter Moor completed his Test half century making an unbeaten 63-run off 192-balls laced with six boundaries but he failed to prevent Zimbabwean’s collapse after Taijul continued his inroad on the second day.
Another overnight batsman Regis Chakabva added 28 runs before he perished to Taijul. Taijul then took wickets of Wellington Masakadza, Kyle Jervis and Tendai Chatara to complete his six wickets haul giving away 108 runs.
Apart from Taijul Islam’s six wicket haul, debutant Nazmul Islam, who took one wicket on the first day, today captured one more wicket to complete his spells with 2 for 49 runs.
Brief score:
Zimbabwe 1st innings – 282 for all, Williams 82, Moor 63 n.o, Masakadza 52, Chakabva 28, Taijul 6/108 and Nazmul 2/49. 2nd innings – 1 for no loss, Masakadza 1 batting, Chari 0 batting, Bangladesh 1st innings – 143 for all, Ariful 41 n.o, Mushfiqur 31, Miraz 21, Mominul 11, Chatara 3/19, Sikandar 3/35, Jarvis 2/28.