PROMISING seamer Shingi Masakadza’s three early wickets at the beginning of Bangladesh’s second innings gave Zimbabwe some hope of a comeback after a dismal batting display in their reply of the tourists’ solid 391 in the third day of the second Test at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Report by Michael Madyira
After being bowled out for 282, Masakadza and wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami collectively took four wickets as Bangladesh closed the day at 163 for 5 to stretch their lead to 272 runs with five wickets in hand.
Masakadza picked up wickets regularly to ensure that Bangladesh would not run away with the match and was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe finishing with bowling figures of three wickets for 33 runs in 14 overs.
Zimbabwe started the day with six wickets to spare and needing 233 to catch the tourists but just managed to add 124 more as Elton Chigumbura posted his second Test fifty before finishing on 86 off 111 balls.
Robiul Islam’s five wicket haul haunted Zimbabwe whose tail was splendidly smashed, losing the last three wickets in successive overs off 16 balls. Robiul became the first Bangladeshi to claim back-to-back five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
But the hosts returned looking at restricting Bangladesh as much as possible before they assume the bat for their second innings.
Iqbal Tamim and Islam Jahurul were both respectively caught behind by Mutumbami off Masakadza’s deliveries before Mohammad Ashraful was trapped lbw Kyle Jarvis to reduce Bangladesh to 18 for three as early as the seventh over.
