Defensive approach puts Tigers on the run
Bangladesh's questionable team selection in the longest format once again raised eyebrows as the visitors were under tremendous pressure following a disastrous start with the bat against the host Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club Ground.
However, Liton Das and Mahmudullah Riyad fought back and added a crucial 138-run stand for the seventh wicket to somehow rescue the Tigers from collapsing miserably.
Liton played brilliantly under pressure but missed out on his maiden century by just five runs as Donald Tiripano struck twice in the final session.
At stumps, Bangladesh were 294 for 8 with Mahmudullah, having returned to the Test side after 16 months, worked hard for his unbeaten 54 while Taskin Ahmed also provided valuable support with his unbeaten 13.
SCORES IN BRIEF: Bangladesh 1st innings: 294 for eight in 83 overs (Mominul 70, Liton 95, Mahmudullah 54 not out, Shadman 23, Taskin 13 not out; Muzarabani 3-48, Ngarava 1-36, Tiripano 2-36, Nyauchi 2-69) |
Bangladesh was without their in-form experienced opener Tamim Iqbal who was yet to recover from his knee injury as the Tigers playing eleven consisted of nine specialist batsmen including all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz. In the bowling attack, the team management surprisingly picked two seamers in the form of Taskin Ahmed and Ebadat Hossain while Shakib Al Hasan and Miraz were made to look after the spin department.
But once again the defensive approach and negative mentality--to have that extra cushion lower down the order by adding an extra batsman in the playing eleven--kept Bangladesh at the back-foot right from the start.
Host Zimbabwe on the other hand, included four-seamers in the line-up and immediately got the reward after Bangladesh elected to bat. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani struck twice early in the morning to dismiss opener Saif Hasan on duck followed by removing Najmul Hossain Shanto who was caught at slips on two as the Tigers were struggling on 8 for 2 inside five overs.
Since then another opener Shadman Islam, also making a comeback to the side, paired with skipper Mominul Haque and added sixty for the third wicket that provided some stability for the visitors.
But Bangladesh lost their third wicket of Shadman, out for 23, and the Tigers once again started to look shaky and headed to lunch on 70 for 3.
The post-lunch session unfolded in similar fashion for the Tigers where Mushfiqur Rahim became the third victim of Muzarabani on eleven after he was trapped leg-before while trying to leave an incoming delivery.
And Shakib, making a comeback to the Test side, couldn't make an impact and was caught behind in a soft fashion while going for a square drive at the bowling of Victor Nyauchi on 3. Skipper Mominul on the other end rode on his luck after reaching his fifty but he too perished on seventy before being caught at gully as Bangladesh was reeling on 132 for 6 inside the second session of the day.
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