DHAKA, Feb 23, 2020 (BSS)- Nazmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mominul Haque
struck half-centuries as Bangladesh is firmly on course of taking a sizable
lead over Zimbabwe in the one-off Test at Sher-e-Bangla National on Sunday.
At the end of the day two, Bangladesh reached 240-3, capping off another
dominating day over the visitors.
The host are still trailing by 25 runs but with Mominul and Mushfiqur Rahim
in the crease, a big lead looks imminent. Shrugging off his recent bad patch
with willow, Mominul remained firm for his ninth century, batting on 79 with
Mushfiqur Rahim on 32.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto earlier struck his maiden half-century and eventually
hit a well-composed 71 runs knock. Bangladesh took Zimbabwe’s last four
wickets for 37 runs to dismiss the visitors for 265 in the morning session of
day two but made a shaky start to their first innings, having lost opener
Saif Hasan for 8.
Promising Saif indicated a good day for him, hitting a picture-perfect
straight drive for boundary at the outset of his innings but was undone by a
victor Nyachu-delivery.
Shanto and Tamim Iqbal steadied the ship, playing with utmost confidence
against a disciplined Zimbabwe bowling. Coming off a horrible match against
Pakistan, Tamim looked set for a big score as he played some convincing shots
around the part to make the visitors disarray.
Shanto seemed to be determined to carry his Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL)
form in which he struck his maiden double century.
As the things were going right direction for Bangladesh, Donald Tiripano
had Tamim caught by wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva for 41, bring an end to the
98-run second wicket partnership.
Tamim smashed seven boundaries in the knock in which he played 89
deliveries and in the process also completed his 13000 runs in International
cricket across the format.
Shanto remained unfazed and completed his first half-century, punching a
fuller delivery of Sikandar Raza through mid-off for a single.
Debutant Charlton Tshuma found extra bounce to get the better of Shanto for
his maiden wicket after the batsman struck 139 ball-71, clobbering seven
fours.
After breaking the 76-run partnership between Shanto and Mominul, Zimbabwe
sensed a chance to hurl the baton over the host, which was completely ruined
by another decisive partnership between Mominul and Mushfiqur Rahim. The
incumbent and former captain of Bangladesh shared 68-run partnership for the
unbroken fourth wicket stand to keep Zimbabwe at bay.
Mominul played 120 balls so far for his 79, his 14th half-century that came
with the help of nine boundaries. Mushfiqur sent the ball across the rope for
six times for his 32 off 68.
Tiripano, Nyachu and Tshuma ended with one wicket apiece on day two.
Earlier, fast bowler Abu Jayed Rahi and off-spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed
four wickets apiece as Bangladesh shot Zimbabwe out 80 minutes after the day
started.
Rahi finished with 4-71, his career best bowling in an innings so far while
Nayeem conceded 70 for his four-for. Leading spinner Taijul Islam who was off
colour on day one, ended with 2-90. Resuming the day two on 228-6, Zimbabwe
was able to add just 37 runs to their overnight total with Rahi and Taijul
taking the rest of the four wickets.
While the lower order batsmen found it tough to deal with Rahi and Taijul
in the morning session of the day two, Regis Chakabva was the only one who
could offer genuine resistance.
Chakabva made 30 with the help of three boundaries before being dismissed
by Taijul Islam as the last batsman. Stand-in captain Craig Ervine was the
highest scorer for Zimbabwe with 107 while opener Prince Masvaure made 64.