The Bangladesh spinners, spearheaded by 19-year old leggie Jubair Hossain, once again put in an impressive shift as Zimbabwe were all out for 374 in their first innings of the third and final Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday giving the hosts a lead of 129 runs. By the close of the third day’s play, Bangladesh scored 23 without loss and extended their lead to 152 runs with openers Tamim Iqbal (eight) and Imrul Kayes (11) unbeaten at the crease.
Jubair grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul in his third Test while left-arm spinners Taijul Islam and Shakib al Hasan took one wicket apiece as Zimbabwe, resuming the third day’s play on 113/1, were dismissed for 374.
The overnight Zimbabwe batsmen – opener Sikandar Raza and second Test centurion Hamilton Masakadza – looked in ominous touch and continued their good work of the previous day. The duo had already completed reaching their half-centuries on the second day and started the third day from where they had left off.
The second wicket pair added a further 56 runs before paceman Shafiul Islam provided the first breakthrough of the day. The right-arm seamer trapped Hamilton in front for a well-made 81. Thus ended Zimbabwe’s best ever second wicket stand in Tests. Sikandar and Hamilton’s 160-run stand is also the Southern African nation’s best ever partnership for any wicket against Bangladesh in Tests.
Then came Jubair’s match-altering spell. The juvenile leg-spinner accounted for two Zimbabwean batsmen – Sikandar (82) and skipper Brendan Taylor (one) - in the same over to wrest the initiative away from the opposition.
Jubair sent Taylor back in the hut with a tossed up delivery. Sikandar then departed after being caught nicely at slip by Mahmudullah. The visitors headed for lunch on 172/4.
Following lunch, Craig Ervine (14) was Jubair’s third victim. Jubair’s harmless full-toss delivery shattered the timber after Ervine failed to connect a sweep shot.
Through wicketkeeper-batsman Regis Chakabva and Elton Chigumbura, Zimbabwe then came back to the game courtesy a 113-run partnership for the sixth wicket that was also instrumental behind the crossing of the follow-on mark.
Zimbabwe would have been in a more dire situation had Chakabva and Chigumbura were not dropped on several occasions. However, Bangladesh did not have to pay dearly as both were soon dismissed.
Chakabva was adjudged leg-before off an in-swinging Shafiul delivery after scoring a patient 65. Ace all-rounder Shakib then joined in the party removing Richmond Mutumbami for 20. In the process, Shakib also created one more slice of history.
Shakib now has 18 wickets to his name in this series, equaling Enamul Haque Jr’s tally of 18 for the highest number of wickets by a Bangladesh bowler in a Test series. Shakib has one more innings to make the record his own.
Chigumbura though, at the other end, was proving to be a tough nut to crack. Having survived on more than one occasion, the right-handed batsman was heading towards his maiden Test hundred. However, having ridden his luck for a number of times, Chigumbura was finally dismissed by Jubair for 88, his highest ever Test score.
Jubair completed his five-wicket haul dismissing Natsai M’Shangwe for eight.
Taijul earlier chipped in with the wicket of Shingi Masakadza (nought) as the Bangladesh spinners again dominated with the leather. The Bangladesh spin department took seven wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings of the third and final Test and now require eight wickets in the second innings to create a rare feat.
No Test team’s spinners have ever taken more than 50 wickets in a three-match series in the history of five-day cricket. The Tigers spinners are now on the threshold of history with 43 wickets so far in this series.