We can smell victory

commendable spirit to win the game, by making a surprise declaration, after a fourth day that belonged to the hosts at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Having wobbled under pressure to close on 92-4 on day three, to drag Bangladesh in the game, Taylor and Taibu – with a little bit of help from Craig Ervine – pushed Zimbabwe back into control with polished innings. Taylor led from the front, with an unbeaten 105, to become only the second Zimbabwe skipper to score a century on his debut as Test captain, joining Dave Houghton who did it exactly 20 years ago against India.
Taibu helped Taylor with a half century and, even after he departed, Ervine came and kept Zimbabwe in control as they reached 291/5 at tea for a lead of 374.
Expectations were that Zimbabwe would play a number of other overs, after tea, to plunder the runs and pass the 400 mark for a safe lead that would have taken the game out of Bangladesh’s hands. But this is a Zimbabwean side with a spring in its step and playing to win the Test, rather than settle for the comfort of a draw.
And Taylor surprised all by declaring, throwing Bangladesh back in to bat after tea and Chris Mpofu (one wicket) and Kyle Jarvis (two) saw Bangladesh slip to 112-3 at the close.
Bangladesh now need a further 263 runs to win, on what should be an absorbing final day, with seven wickets in hand.
Taylor celebrated his maiden Test ton that comprised nine fours, off 170 balls, as the big skipper dominated the day with his bat.
His fifth wicket stand with former captain Taibu (59) steadied the ship after they opened on shaky ground at 92-4, knowing that the loss of a wicket or two could have changed the game dramatically.
The last time Zimbabwe declared in a Test game was in 2005, with Taibu as captain, and it also came against Bangladesh in a game the former skipper scored his best Test score of 153 at the same venue.
Bangladesh were hoping to make a strong impression after they came in after tea.
The Tigers, refreshingly, chose to attack and Tamin Iqbal scored quickly but when he went for 43, to give Mpofu his wicket, it ended his 65-run partnership with Imrun Kayes (31).
A delivery by Mpofu, just before the end of the 14th over, uprooted Tamim’s off stump, and – given that this was a big wicket – the pace bowler had all the reason to celebrate. Then it was the unlucky Jarvis’ turn to come to the party after a brilliant show in the first innings, which had not received its due rewards with dropped catches and missed opportunities including an lbw shout that looked plump.
Having bowled with control and aggression, Jarvis always looked dangerous and he was rewarded with the scalps of both Kayes and Shahir Nafees – giving the Zimbabweans the boost they had wanted.
Kayes edged one and was caught behind by Taibu, sparking wild celebrations in the Zimbabwe side.
Zimbabwe were celebrating again when Jarvis beat Nafees and the ball found its target, knocking down the middle stump with the score on 102.
Mohammad Ashraful (19 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim, with an unbeaten four, will start this morning hoping to give their side the impetus its innings badly need in this fascinating run chase.
Zimbabwe could not have asked for anything more.
The hosts put up another spirited performance with the bat in the morning session that set up a good day, leaving captain Taylor a delighted man at tea.
The foundation was laid by the overnight fifth wicket partnership of Taibu and Taylor and when the former perished, having reached his fifty, Ervine joined his captain for an unbeaten 35.
There was very little threat from the Tigers’ attack and Zimbabwe were comfortable at the crease despite Rubel Hossain’s best efforts.
The pace bowler tried his best while the spin attack could not make the breakthrough as the left-arm spinners, used to conditions on the sub-continent, could not induce the track to give them the help they wanted.
Taibu gained confidence facing the Bangladesh spin as he had fun on the crease and scoring all around the wicket on his way to his half-century while Taylor played a good supporting role to his former captain.
Taylor then hammered a four, off Adur Razzak, for his century that sent the stadium into delirium.
A backward sweep to square leg saw him celebrate his first Test century.
“I wasn’t thinking about the hundred too much, I hit a couple of boundaries around the 70s and then I started to think I could get it.
“We needed as much time as we wanted to get these guys out. This wicket will not change much on day five. We have got to fight hard for these wickets,” said Taylor.
Scorecard
Zimbabwe first innings:: 370 all out (H. Masakadza 104, V. Sibanda 78, B. Taylor 71)
Bangladesh first innings: 287 (M. Ashraful 73, S. Al Hassan 68, S. Nafeez 50, B. Vitori 4-66)
Zimbabwe second innings (overnight 92-4)
Mawoyo b R Islam 35
Sibanda c. S. Islam b R. Hossain 38
Masakadza c and b Al Hassan 5
Taylor not out 105
Price lbw b Razzak 4
Taibu c R. Islam b S. Islam 59
Ervine not out 35
Extras (2lb, 4w, 4nb) 10
Total 291
Did not bat: Chigumbura, Jarvis, Vitori, Mpofu
F-o-W: 1-69 (Sibanda), 2-79 (Mawoyo) 3-83 (Masakadza), 4-92 (Price), 5-205 (Taibu)
Bowling
S. Islam 11-3-29-1, R. Islam 13-1-48-1 (3w, 1nb), Razzak 20-5-49-1 , Hossain 17-2-75-1 (1w, 3nb), Mahmudullah 12-3-27-0, Al Hassan 18-4-60-1, Kayes 1-0-1-0
Bangladesh second innings
Kayes c Taibu b Jarvis 31
Iqbal b Mpofu 43
Nafeez b Jarvis 9
Ashraful not out 19
Rahim not out 4
Extras (4b, 1lb, 1nb) 6
Total (3 wkts 30 overs, 141 mins) 112
To bat: Shakib Al Hassan, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak. Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Robiul Islam
F-o-W: 1-65 (Iqbal), 2-87 (Kayes), 3-102 (Nafeez)
Bowling: Jarvis 10-1-40-2; Vitori 7-1-33-0; Mpofu 4-0-17-1 (1nb): Chigumbura 8-3-16-0; Price 1-0-1-0
Match position: Bangladesh need 263 runs to win with seven wickets remaining.