Bangladesh need to take nine Zimbabwean wickets on the 5th and final day of their third match of the Bashundhara Cement Test Series seeking the first-ever 3-0 series win on Sunday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. On the fourth day (Saturday), Bangladesh ((503 in 1st innings) resumed the second innings with overnight 23 for no loss in 9 overs and declared the innings at 319 for 5 in 78 overs with Mominul Haque scoring an unbeaten ton, setting a 449-run target for Zimbabwe.After the early departure of overnight opening batsman Imrul Kayes at 36 for 1 in 13.4 overs, another overnight opener Tamim Iqbal pairing with one down Mominul contributed 113 runs in 32.2 overs for the second wicket before Tamim was bowled by Natsai M’shangwe leaving team total 149 for 2 in 46 overs.Mominul built another partnership with Mahmudullah to contribute 55
runs in 10.3 overs in the third wicket stand before Mahmudullah was caught by R Mutumbami off T Panyangara with team score 204 for 3 in 56.3 overs.Mominul hit his fourth Test century scoring unbeaten 131 runs off 189 balls with 13 fours while Tamim got his 17th Test half-century scoring 65 runs off 142 balls with four fours.Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim smashed 30-ball 46 runs with four fours and
two sixes while Mahmudullah (30), Shakib Al Hasan (17) and Imrul Kayes (15) were the other double digit scorers for Bangladesh.
N M’shangwe and T Panyangara grabbed two wickets each for 77 and 31 runs respectively while Sikandar Raza took one wicket for 114 runs.Zimbabwe (374 in 1st innings) opened their second innings and scored 71 runs for 1 in 19 overs at stumps on the 4th day, still needing 378 runs on the final day (Sunday).Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza were batting on 43 and 26 runs respectively. Pacer Rubel Hossain trapped Brian Chari (0) leg before to grab the day’s only Zimbabwean wicket for 16 runs.Brief score:Bangladesh first innings: 503 for all in 153.4 overs; Imrul Kayes 130, Tamim Iqbal 109, Shakib Al Hasan 71, Mominul Haque 48, Rubel Hossain
not out 45, Shuvagata Hom 35, Sikandar Raza 3/123, H Masakadza 2/23, Tinashe Panyangara 2/70, S Masakadza 2/77.Bangladesh second innings: 319 for 5 (declared) in 78 overs (overnight 23 for no lose in 9 overs); Mominul Haque not out 131, Tamim Iqbal 65, Mushfiqur Rahim 46, Mahmudullah 30, Shakib Al Hasan 17, Imrul Kayes 15, NM’shangwe 2/77, T Panyangara 2/31, Sikandar Raza 1/114.Zimbabwe first innings: 374 for all in 106 overs; E Chigumbura 88, Sikandar Raza 82, H Masakadza 81, RW Chakabva 65, R Mutumbami 20, CR Ervine 14, Jubair Hossain 5/96, Shafiul Islam 2/50, Rubel Hossain 1/46, Shakib Al Hasan 1/67, Taijul Islam 1/100.Zimbabwe second innings: 71 for 1 in 19 overs at stumps; Sikandar Raza batting 43, H Masakadza batting 26, Rubel Hossain 1/16. -UNB
