Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: Following the wicket of Masakadza, Bangladesh picked up two more wickets as Taijul Islam, who was Zimbabwe’s tormentor in the first innings with six wickets took the wickets of Sean Williams and Peter Moor off back-back deliveries.
10 overs 3 wickets for 33 runs is what brought the Tigers back into the game post lunch. The spinners are doing the trick for the hosts in the afternoon session but shot-selection from the experienced Masakadza and Williams both out trying to reverse-sweep have been poor
Mehedi Hasan Miraz broke the partnership that was threatening to take the game away from the Tigers as Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza was sent back, out leg-before trying to reverse-sweep the off-spinner. Masakadza, who had struck 52 in the first innings and was looking rather solid this morning feel for 48.
Lunch: Zim 91/2 after 32 overs
Earlier, Miraz had also brought the breakthrough that Bangladesh were looking for early in the morning as he picked up the wicket of Brian Chari, who was watchful during his 33-ball 4. Taijul Islam, who got a six-wicket haul in the first innings then picked up the wicket of Brendon Taylor as Imrul Kayes took an excellent catch while running.
Despite the wickets, Zimbabwe have the upper hand as they stretched their lead over 200 runs. Skipper Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams have looked comfortable, once again proving that spending time in the middle is important in order to score runs on this pitch where run-scoring has not been easy. Masakadza is on 39 and Williams is batting on 16. The pair contributed with a 44-run partnership as the lead currently stands at 230 runs. Only twice have been a higher score chased down in Bangladesh and it already looks like a formidable task for the Tigers. While conditions have remained slightly overcast, the overnight rain did nothing to improve Bangladesh’s chances of picking up wickets and they now must look to break the partnership quickly after lunch in order to get back into the match.
