Taijul hopeful after getting in a good position
||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam said on Tuesday that they are expecting to level the series against Zimbabwe after moving into a formidable position in the ongoing Test.
Taijul finished with 5/107 as Bangladesh bowled out Zimbabwe for 304 runs in the first innings to take a massive 218-run lead at stumps on the third day.
Zimbabwe innings ended with 19-short of follow on mark once Taijul dismissed Regis Chakabva for 10 as last man Tendai Chatara was unable to bat due to an injury.
Zimbabwe were on course to avoid the follow-on once Brendon Taylor hit 110 off 194 balls and Peter Moor added his career-best 83 but a late flurry of wickets brought Bangladesh back in the game.
Taijul’s sixth career five-for was instrumental in forcing Zimbabwe end the day on 304/9, still trailing by 218 runs, despite a superb 110 from Brendan Taylor. His effort was complemented by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan (3/61) who got the prized scalp of Brendan Taylor after the batsman showed a rock-solid temperament to cut short Bangladesh’s advantage.
“The wicket is such that if we can stick to our disciplines and bowl in good areas, then it is possible. Nothing is impossible, so I am keeping my hopes up and to be honest we are in a good position,” Taijul told reporters after the third days play.
“Whatever we do, if we can do it well, then something good will happen.
“We are performing to expectation... of course they had a partnership but even then we were not upset. The fourth and fifth days are yet to come, and maybe the wicket will have more wear and tear as the match wears on,
“The wicket has not become quicker. Yesterday, we were getting sharp turn but today there was no sharp turn. The sharp turn you get when it lands on cracks wasn’t there today. The wait for the fifth wicket... maybe it took some time; they had a good partnership. There are partnerships in cricket. I didn’t lose hope – with the grace of the Almighty it happened,” he added.
