adminZimbabwe won the toss and put the visitors into bat with the hope that they would make early in-roads but this did not go according to plan for the hosts and, to a large extent, they have themselves to blame for this.
The tourists were 300/6 at close of play after star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan finally came to the party and played like the top player that he is as he scored 81 (with fours off 118 balls).
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim’s 60 came off 165 deliveries with five fours and a six setting themselves up into a very good position.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal chipped in with an important 49 off 138 deliveries, providing the solidity at the top that the Tigers had lacked in the first test, and his contribution included six fours.
But he could have gone without scoring and that he didn’t typified a poor day in the field for the hosts.
Whether it was catches that should have been held or run-outs, which looked routine but were missed, it was a sorry sight as the hosts somehow failed to take their breaks and press on.
As the pressure built, the Zimbabwe attack lost its way and the tourists took advantage.
Tamim feels that they have to get at least a hundred runs today if they are to press on the advantage that they seemingly have now.
“Four hundred would be a good score for us, we seem to be in control and we are targeting to get as much runs as possible and if we manage that then we know we will be in a strong position to push for a good result,” said Tamim.
“We gave away all the wickets quite easily save for maybe the captain (Mushfiqur Rahim) and mine was actually stupid, a disgraceful dismissal and I feel that we should not have lost so many wickets easily.
“We (Bangladesh) dropped a lot of catches in the first Test and now Zimbabwe are doing the same thing, the bad thing about doping a catch is that you might be punished for it.
“Look at how we dropped Taylor at 30 in the first Test and he went on to score 170, it just goes on to show how serious that might be.”
It was with the second ball of the third over that Jahurul Islam (24), after posting just six runs, was dropped by Graeme Creamer at gully off a Keegan Meth delivery.
But the Bangladeshi opener only managed to add 18 more runs before he was caught by Malcom Waller, with Meth getting his due reward this time, with the first wicket falling for 44. Ashraful was the second to go after he was caught by Creamer for four off a Shingi Mssakadza delivery as he tried to play a bouncer outside off stump but it seemed too high resulting in him lobbying it to Creamer who this time had safe hands.
Tamim would have perished when he fended a delivery from Elton Chigumbura and the ball appeared to die down, as Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor dived to his right, and it’s failure to carry gave the opening batsman a life.
Zimbabwe composed themselves, from the frustrating morning, and they got their two wickets to reduce Bangladesh to 89 for two at lunch.
Tamim, who should have been run out without scoring, survived to the lunch break.
However, it was the 123-run fifth wicket partnership of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim that breathed life into the Bangladesh innings as the experienced duo was at the crease together for just over 40 overs, steering Bangladesh to 248/5 from 125/4.
The partnership was broken after Shakib Al Hasan was caught behind by Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami just when he thought he was on his way to a century. Chigumbura was disappointed with the way they fluffed their chances.
“We should have done better, especially in the morning, but it was unfortunate that we were bowling too full,” said Chigumbura.
“Maybe we thought that the wicket was going to be favourable to us and when that did not happen we started trying too hard but I still there is still room for us to improve tomorrow. I am happy that I had good rhythm, hit the good areas today,”
Scorecard
Tamim Iqbal run out (SW Masakadza) 49
Jahurul Islam c Waller b Meth 24
Mohammad Ashraful c Cremer b SW Masakadza 4
Mominul Haque c SW Masakadza b Chigumbura 23
Shakib Al Hasan c †Mutumbami b Chigumbura 81
Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Jarvis 60
Nasir Hossain not out 37
Ziaur Rahman not out 8
Extras (b2, lb 7, w1, nd 4) 14
Total (6 wickets, 88 overs) 300
Still to bat: Sohag Gazi, SAjidul Islam, Robiul Islam.
F-o-W: 1-44 (Jahurul Islam, 13.2 ov), 2-58 (Mohammad Ashraful, 18.5 ov), 3-102 (Tamim Iqbal, 28.6 ov), 4-125 (Mominul Haque, 33.3 ov), 5-248 (Shakib Al Hasan, 73.5 ov), 6-280 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 82,1).
Bowling: Jarvis 18-3-85-1 (3nb), Meth 16-7-22-1, Masakadza 17-2-52-1 (1nb, 1w), Chigumbura 18-4-59-2, Creamer 19-273-0.
Online Reporter