CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam smashed a century in the second Test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, giving the hosts a lead of 64 runs at the end of the second day with three wickets in hand.
Bangladesh were 291-7 at the close, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (16) and Taijul Islam (five) remaining not out, in response to Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 227.
Shadman recorded a career-best knock of 120 and partnered with Anamul Haque in a first-wicket stand of 118 runs, only the 10th time that Bangladesh’s openers had passed the 100-run mark in Tests.
Despite Shadman’s century, the other batsmen failed to exploit the dry and slow surface at Chattogram after a good start.
Anamul, who was making a comeback to the Test team after three years, scored 39.
Mominul Haque (33) and Mushfiqur Rahim (40) have also struggled to convert good starts into big scores.
Mushfiqur, who failed to pass the 50-run mark in the past 12 innings, was run out by Wessly Madhevere.
Bangladesh were 259-3 at one point but then lost their next four wickets for 20 runs.
Vincent Masekesa, Zimbabwe’s debutant leg-spinner, took three wickets, including those of Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicket-keeper batter Jaker Ali.
Resuming with one wicket in hand, their innings was wrapped up with Taijul’s first ball of the second day.
Zimbabwe’s tail-ender Blessing Muzarabani edged Taijul’s first ball of the morning session to Jaker, leaving the left-arm slow bowler with figures of 6-60.
Taijul had already taken his 16th five-wicket haul in Tests on Monday. Fellow spinner Nayeem Hasan finished with 2-42.
Zimbabwe collapsed from a comfortable 177-2 during Monday’s final session, losing their last eight wickets for 50 runs.
Sean Williams with 67 was Zimbabwe’s top scorer and Nick Welch made 54 after captain Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to bat.
Zimbabwe are 1-0 up in the two-Test series after winning the opener in Sylhet by three wickets.
SCOREBOARD
ZIMBABWE (1st Innings, overnight 227-9):
B. Bennett c Jaker b Tanzim 21
B. Curran b Taijul 21
N. Welch b Taijul 54
S. Williams c Tanzim b Nayeem 67
C. Ervine c Jaker b Nayeem 5
W. Madhevere c Jaker b Taijul 15
T. Tsiga not out 18
W. Masakadza lbw Taijul 6
R. Ngarava b Taijul 0
V. Masekesa run out 8
B. Muzarabani c Jaker b Taijul 2
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, NB-3, W-1) 10
TOTAL (all out, 90.1 overs) 227
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-41 (Bennett), 2-72 (Curran), 3-177 (Ervine), 4-178 (Williams), 5-200 (Madhevere), 6-206 (Masakadza), 7-206 (Ngarava), 8-216 (Masekesa), 9-217 (Welch)
BOWLING: Hasan 10-3-24-0, Tanzim 10-0-49-1 (1w, 3nb), Hasan 21-7-44-0, Taijul 27.1-6-60-6, Nayeem 20-9-42-2, Mominul 2-0-2-0
BANGLADESH (1st Innings):
Shadman Islam lbw Bennett 120
Anamul Haque lbw Muzarabani 39
Mominul Haque c Curran b Masakadza 33
Najmul Hossain c Welch b Masekesa 23
Mushfiqur Rahim run out 40
Jaker Ali c&b Masekesa 5
Mehidy Hasan not out 16
Nayeem Hasan c Williams b Masekesa 3
Taijul Islam not out 5
EXTRAS (LB-7) 7
TOTAL (for seven wickets, 87 overs) 291
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-118 (Anamul), 2-194 (Mominul), 3-194 (Shadman), 4-259 (Najmul), 5-267 (Jaker), 6-274 (Mushfiqur), 7-279 (Nayeem)
STILL TO BAT: Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan
BOWLING: Ngarava 11-2-41-0, Muzarabani 16-4-44-1, Masakadza 29-5-77-1, Masekesa 14-0-44-3, Madhevere 8-0-29-0, Bennett 9-1-49-1
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2025