A mid-afternoon spell from Robiul Islam swung the second and final Test Bangladesh's way. The fast bowler troubled Zimbabwe considerably, but the visitors would have liked a few more wickets in the final session after the home side ended the second day on 158 for 4.
The game is increasingly becoming an engrossing contest, especially after the 61-run unbeaten fifth-wicket stand between Elton Chigumbura, who remained at the crease on 45, accompanied by Malcolm Waller, who was not out on 30. They forced the pace, after being held back considerably by Bangladesh's main bowler.
Robiul's first spell of 11 overs cost just 16 runs as he racked up six maidens. The reward was two wickets during that middle session, from which Zimbabwe haven't quite recovered. His two subsequent spells were disciplined, too, and it helped the other bowlers to merely keep to their task rather than bring out anything extraordinary. The day was always going to be Robiul's.
His work on the second day began with the bat in hand. Towards the end of the Bangladesh innings, he blasted two fours and two sixes in his 18-ball 24. He took 17 runs off a Graeme Cremer over as Zimbabwe struggled to close Bangladesh out. When he had the ball in hand, Robiul was in the zone.
He tested Regis Chakabva with his good length deliveries, pitching and moving away on most occasions. The odd delivery every over went straight on as both Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda hardly made an impression on the bowling. Chakabva was dropped on 6 by a diving captain Mushfiqur Rahim behind the wicket off Robiul. But he fell in the same bowler's next over. The ball didn't appear to take the edge, but the umpire adjudged him caught behind. Sibanda fell in Robiul's following over, his edge to the wicketkeeper thin but audible.
Robiul then had a battle to remember with Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, the best batsman on show this series. He first bowled very full and straight, before resorting to the shorter deliveries. In the 17th over alone, he had Taylor gloving a bouncer awkwardly before edging a good-length ball short of first slip. Taylor played 34 deliveries from Robiul, scoring only six runs. Mushfiqur posted a third man to cut out Taylor's ramp shot against the short ball but Robiul probably overdid the short stuff.
Hamilton Masakadza fell to a Shakib Al Hasan delivery that didn't turn. It was the left-arm spinner's fourth ball in the game, and put the home side deeper into trouble at 45 for 3.
Taylor battled on after tea, opening up on more than one occasion during his partnership with Waller. They added 52 before the Zimbabwe captain holed out to deep square leg off Sohag Gazi.
Afterwards and till stumps, Waller and Chigumbura forced the issue with regular change of strike and boundaries which flowed more as the visitors tried to eke out a wicket in the last hour.
Earlier, Nasir helped Bangladesh add a further 91. He made 77 off 103, leading two important partnerships after the dismissal of the top six batsmen. He added 33 for the seventh wicket with Ziaur Rahman, before putting together 51 for the eight wicket with Gazi.
Nasir hit eleven boundaries, and his positive approach against the second new ball should encourage the other batsmen to not throw it away after getting a start. Nasir began slowly, but didn't let go of any opportunity to find the boundary until he was bowled around his legs by Cremer, becoming the ninth batsman out for 367. Robiul's hitting stretched the score to 391, and his bowling made sure Zimbabwe would have a hard time getting anywhere close.
Tea Zimbabwe 47 for 3 (Taylor 6*, Waller 0*) trail Bangladesh 391 (Shakib 81, Nasir 77) by 390 runs
Robiul Islam was the dominant figure for Bangladesh after Nasir Hossain helped them post 391 runs in the first innings. Zimbabwe went to the tea interval on 47 for 3 as they struggled to get off to a proper start.
Brendan Taylor was unbeaten on 6, alongside Malcolm Taylor who still hadn't opened his account. They have an uphill task to keep the home side on level terms with Bangladesh who are now clearly in the stronger position.
Robiul's work on the second day actually began with the bat in hand. Towards the end of the Bangladesh innings, he blasted two sixes and two fours in his 18-ball 24. He took 16 runs off a Graeme Cremer over as Zimbabwe struggled to close the Bangladesh out quickly. When he had the ball in hand, Robiul remained as confident. He tested Regis Chakabva with his good length deliveries, pitching and moving away on most occasions. The odd delivery every over went straight on, to keep the batsmen guessing.
Chakabva was dropped on 4 off Robiul when captain Mushfiqur Rahim moved late behind the wicket, but the Zimbabwe opener fell to the same bowler in the next over. The decision was worth another look as the ball didn't appear to take the edge, but the umpire adjudged him caught behind. Sibanda fell in Robiul's next over, his edge to the wicketkeeper thin but audible.
Robiul then went to work on Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, first bowling very full and straight to him. The ball moved out slightly, and took the outside edge once in the 16th over when the ball fell short of Nasir at first slip. On the previous delivery, Taylor gloved a ball awkwardly to the offside but he was safe. The struggle continued as Taylor played out 27 deliveries from Robiul, scoring only three runs.
Masakadza at the other end fell to a Shakib Al Hasan delivery that didn't turn. It was the left-arm spinner's fourth ball in the game, and it put the home side deeper into trouble.
The trouble began for Zimbabwe earlier on, with Nasir's batting in the first session. He chaperoned the innings to an extra 91 runs on the second morning. He made 77 off 103 balls, adding 33 for the seventh wicket with Ziaur Rahman, before putting together 55 for the eight wicket with Sohag Gazi.
Nasir hit eleven boundaries in the process, and his positive approach against the second new ball should encourage the other batsmen to not throw it away after getting a start. Nasir started off slowly, but seized on all opportunities to find the boundaries. He was finally bowled around his legs by Cremer, the ninth batsman out.
Gazi batted as he usually does, subdued for most but suddenly bursting out with a mow over midwicket, and a blast over long-on. He was caught at long on off Cremer after making 21 off 42 balls. Before him, Ziaur was the first wicket to fall on the fourth over of the morning. The debutant was done in by a huge inswinger from Keegan Meth, Zimbabwe's best bowler of the innings.
Meth, however, was only able to bowl six overs after which he walked off with an injured right knee. He was seen icing the knee, much to the disappointment of his team-mates.
Lunch Zimbabwe 1 for 0 (Sibanda 1*) trail Bangladesh 391 all out (Shakib 81, Nasir 77) by 390 runs
A session of 91 runs was enough to sway the balance of the Test match and help Bangladesh to a total of 391. The Zimbabwe openers Vusi Sibanda and Regis Chakabva played out one over before lunch, which was bowled by Robiul Islam.
Nasir Hossain made the difference on the second day, chaperoning the innings to an extra 91 runs on the second morning. He made 77 off 103 balls, adding 33 for the seventh wicket with Ziaur Rahman, before putting together 51 for the eighth wicket with Sohag Gazi.
Nasir hit eleven boundaries in the process, and his positive approach against the second new ball should encourage the other batsmen to not throw away after getting a start. Nasir started off slowly, but didn't give away any opportunities to find the boundaries. He was bowled around his legs by Graeme Cremer, the ninth batsman out.
Gazi batted as he usually does, subdued for most but suddenly bursting out with a mow over midwicket, before holing out to long on off Graeme Cremer after making 21 off 42 balls. Before him, Ziaur was the first wicket to fall on the fourth over of the morning. The debutant was stung on the crease by Keegan Meth, Zimbabwe's best bowler of the innings.
Meth however was only able to bowl six overs after he walked off with an injured right knee. He was seen icing the knee, much to the exasperation of his teammates who struggled to pick up the last few wickets.
After the ninth wicket fell, Robiul went after Cremer by hitting him for two sixes and a four in an over, and ended unbeaten on 24 with two sixes and two fours.
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