Tigers tighten the noose after Taijul's third straight five-for
||CF Correspondent||
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam ruined Zimbabwe’s hope to leave the second and final Test in parity, claiming his third straight five-for that kept Bangladesh in commanding position at the end of day three at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (November 13).
Taijul’s five for 107, his sixth career five-for, was instrumental in forcing Zimbabwe end the day on 304 for nine, still trailing by 218 runs, despite a superb ton from Brendan Taylor. Zimbabwe fast bowler Tendai Chatara was out of the Test after straining his left quad muscle on Monday, meaning Zimbabwe declared them all-out.
With Zimbabwe still 19 runs short of avoiding the follow-on, Bangladesh may yet not enforce it when play resumes on Wednesday.
Taijul’s effort was complemented by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraj (3-61) who got the prized scalp of Brendan Taylor after the batsman showed a rock-solid temperament to appear set to cut short Bangladesh’s advantage.
Amid Taijul’s repeated strike, Taylor showed a never-say-die attitude, smacking 110 off 194, which included 10 boundaries and shared a 139-run with Peter Moor for the seventh wicket stand, to keep Bangladesh in a state of confusion.
However it all started by Taijul as he broke through with the wicket of night-watchman Donald Tiripano (8) early in the morning after Zimbabwe began the day on 25-1.
Opener Brian Chari resisted with 53 and looked solid but Mehidy Hasan won a video review to remove him just before the lunch.
Aiming their first Test series victory since 2011, Chari and Brendan Taylor looked determined to keep the side unscathed, sharing a 56-run partnership before Mehidy’s straight delivery faintly touched Chari’s glove to produce the much-needed wicket for Bangladesh.
Taijul, who was operating tirelessly, then ripped through Zimbabwe’s middle order with two superb arm deliveries in his consecutive two overs, getting the better of Sean Williams (11) and Sikandar Raza (0).
With 131-5, Zimbabwe looked out of gas to produce any resistance. However, Taylor refused to give it up. The wicketkeeper-batsman wasn’t in his best form in the series so far but he showed the class he belongs to when it mattered the most.
Taylor was not even bothered by the variation and guile of Taijul and Mehidy and more importantly got an ably support in Peter Moor to force Bangladesh execute the Plan B.
Bangladesh’s plan B was successful however. The breakthrough came from the unlikely option as they hit back to the game in the last session, courtesy to occasional medium pace bowler Ariful Haque (1-10) who broke through with the wicket of Moor via leg-before.
Moor scored his career best 83, hitting 12 fours and one six in an innings lasting for 114 balls.
Mehidy then got the most important wicket, which Bangladesh were searching for all day long. The wicket of Taylor came from a modest delivery, which was delivery to dispatch but Taijuls’ stunner left Taylor in state of disbelief. As he slogged it with sheer force, Taijul flung himself to his right full-length to snaffle the stunner over his head, ending Taylor’s resistance. One ball later, Mehidy got the wicket of Mavuta for (0) before Taijul completed his five-for, dismissing Regis Chakabva for 10. Jarvis was batting on 9 with last batsman to come.
Bangladesh declared their first innings on 522-7, riding on Mushfiqur Rahim’s career best 219 not out and Mominul Haque’s 161.
