Bangladesh in control after early jitters
Photo - BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh rode on centuries from Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim to take them in a position of dominance against Zimbabwe by racking up 303-5, on the opening day of the second and final Test on Sunday.
Momimul Haque smashed an eye-catching 161 while Mushfiqur Rahim played a second fiddle to him to be unbeaten on 111 as the duo shared a record 266-run partnership to take the command of the Test from a precarious 26-3.
The duo was instrumental in helping Bangladesh to cross 200 runs after eight test innings.
Mominul’s seventh test ton, which was also his third 150-plus knock, highest by any Bangladeshi batsman was designed with 19 boundaries and gave Bangladesh a firm control after Zimbabwe fast bowlers had Bangladesh wobbled inside first hour of the game.
Mushfiqur who raised his first century after 21 months since his 127 against India in Hyderabad gave Haque the support, playing his part serenely.
The duo had near-complete control of Zimbabwe's bowlers who had earlier capitalized on some reckless shot selection by Bangladesh's batsmen to have the host's in trouble.
Zimbabwe fast bowlers Kyle Jarvis and Donald Tiripano rattled through the host's top order in the first hour, with Jarvis (3-48) making the first breakthrough in the seventh over, dismissing opener Imrul Kayes for no score after the batsman got an inside edge to offer a catch behind the wicket.
The host's then compounded their poor start when other opener Liton Das (9) played a loose shot and chipped straight to mid-wicket off Jarvis's next over.
Tiripano (1-33) then got the better of debutant Mohammad Mithun (0) who offered a catch to first slip chasing a wide delivery.
But Mominul and Mushfiqur steadied the ship for Bangladesh, with the former raising his century, from 150 balls, with his 12th boundary as the hosts rallied in the afternoon.
Mushfiqur’s sixth test century came off 187 balls with the help of eight boundaries after he spent some nervous moment in the crease. He celebrated his century animatedly, with an air punch, but didn’t stop there.
Together Rahim and Haque brought up Bangladesh’s highest partnership against Zimbabwe, before fast bowler Tendai Chatara dismissed Mominul with the second new ball.
Mushfiqur however looked to be destined for a bigger thing, evidencing in his more careful approach after the century.
Kyle Jarvis however removed nightwatchman Taijul Islam (4) in the penultimate over but skipper Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur saw off the day without further fuss.
