|| CF Correspondent ||

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed his second five-wicket to finish with his career best 11-170 but Bangladesh need to rewrite the record to win the first Test against Zimbabwe.

Before the bad light brought a premature end to the third day, half an hour earlier than the scheduled time, the hosts reached 26-0, after Zimbabwe set a target of 321 to win the match on day three at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Liton Das was unbeaten on 14 with Imrul Kayes on 12, after surviving some testing bowling from Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara. Bangladesh still need 295 runs.

Bangladesh’s highest successful fourth innings chase is 217-6 against West Indies at St George’s in 2009. The hosts won only three matches in 28, chasing a target in the fourth innings.

They have put up 300 plus runs only three times in fourth innings, all of which came in a losing-cause.

Taijul however was instrumental in triggering a collapse in Zimbabwe’s second innings that saw them being dismissed for 181 from a dominating 101-2.

Taijul’s 5-62, following his 6-108, was complemented by offspinner Mehidy Hasan’s 3-48 and left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam’s 2-27.

Mehidy broke through dismissing opener Brain Chari for 4 to give the hosts a hope to fight back in the morning session when Zimbabwe began the day on 1-0.

But Brendan Taylor counterattacked in a bid to keep Bangladesh’s spinners at bay.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam ended Taylor’s attacking knock by inducing him to play a big shot, resulting a catch at long-on where Kayes kept him balance to hold on.

Taylor scored 24 off 25, hitting four boundaries.

Mehidy however got the prized wicket of Hamilton Masakadza for 48, ending his 104 balls patient knock, designed with seven fours before Taijul ran through the middle order.

Taijul at that stage took three wickets in five balls to raise the prospect of bowling Zimbabwe out cheaply.