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It was a day the Tigers dominated, for long periods, and having managed to get the dangerous Vusi Sibanda back to the pavillion, and also accounted for skipper Brendan Taylor, it all points to one winner today.
But, as assistant coach Grant Flower said yesterday, it’s a game that can throw in huge surprises and the Masakadza brothers, Hamilton and Shingi, will need to do something miraculous for Zimbabwe to salvage something.
The hosts were on 138 for 4, with the Masakadza brothers batting, after Shingi was brought in as a nightwatchman, with more than 10 overs still to play, in a decision that was as much a surprise, from the hosts, as it was bold.
Now Zimbabwe need to score 263 runs, with just six wickets in hand, to win this match and that doesn’t look possible with only Masakadza left of the experienced batsmen.
Chasing a 401-run victory target was always going to be very difficult for the hosts but they started brightly before, once again, losing their way and Sibanda’s soft dismissal, after he had weathered the new-ball storm, told the story of a team that had lost the resolve to make history.
Bangladesh declared on 291 for 9 just an hour after lunch having taken a 400-run lead with Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan, all posting half centuries to their names.
But it was mainly Rahim’s 93 (off 104 deliveries with five fours) that set up Bangladesh’s big total as they went onto declare having scored 391 in their first innings adding to add to yesterday’s 291 for 9.
The previous six tests meetings between the two sides in Zimbabwe have resulted in the hosts dominating as they have five wins and a draw and a win here for the visitors on the final day could see them claiming their first victory here.
Taylor went for 10, to spark the celebrations in the Bangladesh camp, after having faced 43 balls and scored a four when he was trapped lbw by Ziaur Rahman.
At 96-3, the march to 400 looked an impossible task.
Malcolm Waller also fell to Ziaur for 15 as he was beaten and saw his off stump uprooted.
Shingi came in as the night watchman with 15 overs of play in the day with Zimbabwe on 118/4 and it seemed the decision paid off for the hosts, partnering his brother on an unbeaten 46 (off 94 balls).
Zimbabwe had started the final innings on the right foot as they played with some aggression and all seemed to be going well, with the scoreboard ticking, until Regis Chakabva was beaten by a beauty from Shakib Al Hasan for an adventurous 22.
If Shakib produced a beauty to remove Chakabva, his next wicket, that of Vusi, was a gift.
The Zimbabwe opener scored a 50-ball 32, his highest score in the series, caught by Sohag Gazi at short cover when the field had been spread defensively to beat his threat.
Taylor came and went and Waller stayed there, for some time, but in the end it was left to the Masakadza brothers to negotiate the final overs.
The two brothers had also featured prominently in the Zimbabwe attack with Hamilton getting three wickets, including Mushfiqur’s big one, thanks to a spectacular diving catch by Vusi.
Bangladesh started the day on 163 for five.
The fifth wicket partnership of Shakib (59 off 104 balls with five fours) and Mushfiqur (93 off 153 balls with nine fours) was broken when the former was caught behind by Richmond Mutumbami off a Hamilton delivery.
Mushfiqur and Nasir Hossain (67* off 129 balls with three fours and a six) continued with the battle and added precious runs on the board although the skipper will be disappointed he didn’t get his century when he appeared well set.
Shingi was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with four for 58, while his brother Hamilton weighed in with three for 24.
Online Reporter