Bangladesh have built a second-innings lead of 266 runs at the close of the fourth day of the second Test in Khulna.
The Tigers still have five wickets at hand promising an interesting final day of the Test.
Thursday’s highlights were Shakib Al Hasan’s five-wicket haul after scoring a century, Regis Chakabva’s maiden Test hundred and Mominul Haque’s entry into the 1000 runs club.
Despite a small, yet crucial, collapse in the Bangladesh middle order, the hosts have gathered 201 for 5 at stumps with Mahmudullah Riyad’s third fifty of the series.
Mahmudullah (63) and Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury (23) were holding the Bangladesh fort at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.
Zimbabwe sent back both the Bangladeshi openers in the second session.
Tamim Iqbal (20) was aggressive right at the outset smashing four boundaries.
He hit Tinashe Panyangara over the top for his fourth but punched back to the bowler in the following delivery to walk back.
Mominul Haque flicked a boundary to open his account while other opener Shamsur Rahman followed up with a couple more drives.
But the wind soon died down as the pair was forced to bring the run rate down by the Zimbabwe bowlers.
Shamsur (23 off 71) was sent packing by Malcolm Waller – a decision confirmed by a review, after a 47-run second wicket stand.
The hosts went into tea break on 79 for two.
Mominul sneaked in a single off Natsai M’shangwe to join the 1000 runs club in 21 Test innings, quickest for a Bangladeshi.
Previously the record belonged to Tamim who did it in 30 innings.
Mominul’s (50) fluent innings was cut short again when Waller struck again right after the batsman reached his seventh half-century. The dismissal ended his 56-run partnership with Mahmudullah.
Waller laid waste to the Tigers’ middle order taking out Shakib (6) and Mushfiqur Rahim in successive balls as the hosts slumped to 145 for 5.
Mahmudullah led the recovery thereon and helped the Bangladesh lead cross the 250-run mark, reaching his fifty in the process. His 11th half-ton was laced with seven boundaries.
He and Chowdhury came together for an unbeaten 56-run stand for the sixth wicket so far.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 368 in the first session of the day giving the hosts a lead of 65 runs in the first innings, courtesy of Shakib.
Despite centuries by Hamilton Masakadza and Regis Chakabva, the first of his career, the spinning allrounder hit a new high bagging five wickets and scoring a century in the same Test for the second time.
Zimbabwe started the day on 331 for five.
Shakib spun in a break for the hosts going through the gates of Masakadza (158) who added just four to his overnight score. The sixth wicket stand was worth 147 runs.
Waller, dropped at fine leg earlier, soon joined the centurion in the pavilion when Shakib bagged his fifth to sign up beside greats like Gary Sobers, Mushtaq Ahmed and Jacques Kallis.
It was also Shakib’s successive five-wicket haul in two Tests, 13th overall.
Rubel Hossain, who bowled with Shakib from the other end since morning, was finally rewarded when Tendai Chatara and Natsai M’shangwe both fell to him without scoring in the next over.
The former was out to a brilliant return catch by Rubel while the latter was caught behind.
Chakabva (101) scored his maiden Test century with number eleven Panyangara at the other end. He was trapped leg-before by Taijul Islam right after he reached his personal milestone.
His 226-ball innings was laced with 13 boundaries.
Shakib snared five wickets for 80; Taijul bagged three wickets while Rubel took two.
Source: Bd news24
