Record 9th-wicket stand puts Tigers on solid ground

In the second day, Bangladesh made a dramatic comeback riding on Mahmudullah Riyad's magnificent unbeaten century and Taskin Ahmed's maiden Test fifty where the pair added a record 191 runs in the ninth-wicket stand against Zimbabwe in the lone Test at the Harare Sports Club Ground yesterday.

It was a display of sheer determination and patience from both Mahmudullah and Taskin that helped Bangladesh to post a big first-innings total of 468 runs. That total had seemed a farfetched reality after the first day where the visitors were struggling on 294 for 8.

Zimbabwe also replied strong with the bat and ended the day on 114 for 1, where Shakib Al Hasan picked up the wicket of opener Milton Shumba on 41, as the hosts trail by 354 runs on their first innings.

But it was the partnership between Mahmudullah and Taskin that stole all the limelight as the duo walked out with a humongous task when they resumed the second day and ended up registering the highest ninth-wicket stand for Bangladesh, surpassing the previous record of 184 runs between Mahmudullah and Abul Hasan against Pakistan back in 2012.

When Taskin was eventually dismissed on 75 off 134 balls laced with eleven boundaries, the pair were just four runs shy of the 195 runs stand for the highest ever ninth-wicket partnership in Test history between the South African Mark Boucher and Pat Symcox against Pakistan back in 1995.

It was a matter to survival for the experienced Mahmudullah, who was the last-minute inclusion in the Test squad and was making a comeback to the Test team after 16 months, as the right-hander went on to struck his fifth Test hundred just when it mattered the most.

Mahmudullah who completes his twelve years in Test cricket today eventually walked out unbeaten on 150 off 278 balls that featured 17 boundaries and a maximum.

It was also his 50th Test match for the Tigers and the veteran performer has surely made the occasion special with a statement in style.

On the other hand, Taskin's skills with the bat were a surprise package considering his limitations as a batsman but the left-hander showed great resilience to give equal support to Mahmudullah from the other end.

The 26-year-old also enjoyed his time in the middle which reflected on his break-dance move after leaving a delivery from pacer Blessing Muzarabani and even had a face-off with the bowler on the follow-through.

Earlier resuming the day, Bangladesh added 110 runs in the first session and headed to lunch on 404 for 8. The visitors continued to frustrate the hosts in the next hour until Ebadot Hossain became Muzarabani's fourth victim of the innings as Bangladesh were eventually bundled out with Mahmudullah remaining unbeaten at the other end.