Bangladesh ended first day of Chattogram Test in a comfortable position
after Taijul Islam's five-wicket haul that restricted Zimbabwe to 227-9
in their first innings at Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lt Matiur Rahman
Stadium on Monday.
Zimbabwe made a positive start to the day but the bowlers, particularly spinners, came back strongly in last session.
Taijul blew away Zimbabwean batter and completed 16th Test fifer in the final session, giving Bangladesh the upper hand.
Zimbabwe's
openers showed resilience in the morning session where Bangladesh were
managed to pick up only two wickets before lunch.
Debutant
Tanzim Hasan Sakib provided the initial breakthrough for Bangladesh,
inducing an edge from Bennett that was caught behind the wicket. The
partnership yielded 41 runs.
Bangladesh struck again at 72 runs, with Taijul dismissing Ben Curran, departed 21 off 50 deliveries.
Following the second wicket, Zimbabwe built a strong partnership between Nick Welch and Sean Williams.
They
added 90 runs for the third wicket before Welch retired hurt after
reaching his half-century. He remained unbeaten on 54 off 131 balls.
After Welch's departure, Craig Ervine joined Williams but the experienced batter could not stay at the crease for long.
After
scoring just 5 off 31 balls before being caught by Zakir Ali off Nayeem
Hasan, giving Bangladesh their first breakthrough after lunch.
Nayeem
struck again in his next over, trapping Sean Williams leg-before while
attempting a sweep. Williams's innings ended at 67 off 166 balls.
The spinners continued to dominate in the final session. Taijul dismissed Madhevere for 15, leaving Zimbabwe at 200 for 5.
In
the 81st over, Taijul picked up two wickets in quick succession,
trapping Wellington Masakadza leg-before and then bowled Richard Ngarava
on the very next ball.
Welch returned to crease after the fall
of the eighth wicket but couldn't trouble the scorers much in his second
stint. He was bowled and Taijul completed his five-wicket haul with
that.
Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Mashekesa showed some resistance
for the ninth wicket, but Mashekesa was run out after a sharp piece of
fielding by Mehedi Hasan Miraz.
Zimbabwe lost their ninth wicket at 217. They managed to see out the remaining five overs of the day without further loss.
NSA
