Dhaka- Spin bowlers Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz dominated in the Zimbabweans first innings as the duo shared eight wickets and gave Bangladesh a 218-run lead after the third day’s play in the second and final Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.Zimbabwe were 304 for all in 105.3 overs and fell 19 runs short of the follow-on mark. The moot question is now if the hosts would force them to bat again.
Brendan Taylor [110] reached his fifth Test hundred alongside sharing a 139-run partnership in the sixth wicket with Peter Moor, who hit his career-best 83. Opening batsman Brian Chari scored 53.
Bangladesh’s spinner Taijul’s dazzled for his third consecutive five-wicket haul in the series [5/107].
Left-armer Taijul figured his career best 11-for 170 [6/108 and 5/62] in the first Test of the two-Test series in Sylhet last week. He currently shares honours with Enamul Haque Junior and Shakib Al-Hasan.
Earlier, replying to Bangladesh’s 522/7 declared, Zimbabwe resumed the first innings with overnight 25/1 in 18 overs and managed to stay afloat for much of the day before Ariful Haque’s medium pace snapped Moor from the sixth wicket partnership late in the afternoon at 270 for 6 in the 97th over.
Miraz then took two wickets in three balls. Taijul wrapped up the innings with his fifth wicket.
Zimbabwe’s last batsman pacer Tendai Chatara was absent hurt.
In the day’s first session, Taijul made the first breakthrough dismissing Donald
Tiripano at 40/2 in 28.4 over, before young spin all-rounder Miraz bagged Brian Chari at 96/3 in 41.4 overs.
Taijul [5/107], Miraz [3/61] and Ariful [1/10] bewildered the visitors sharing nine wickets for Bangladesh.
