Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam produced record figures as Bangladesh were 295 runs away from victory with 10 wickets in hand at stumps on day three in their first Test match against Zimbabwe at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Monday.
The task for the Tigers will be a daunting one as the side have never been successful chasing more than 217 in the format.
Bangladesh stormed back into the game riding on the efforts of their spinners with Taijul taking the lead. Taijul finished with five for 62 in the innings, and 11 wickets in the game - his maiden 10-wicket haul in the format.
With the 11-wicket haul, he emerged as the third highest wicket-taker in a Test for Bangladesh, and is also the highest wicket-taker for the side from the time since his debut in 2014. In 20 Tests, the 26-year old has picked up 71 wickets.
Zimbabwe went out to bat with a 140-run lead with all wickets intact. The Tigers had come with the intention of restricting the opposition for as less runs as possible and Taijul was on lead to meet the aim.
Two pitch invaders in the space of three days at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has raised concerns of severe security breach.https://t.co/TNcerLKAbv#BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #ZIMBABWE #ZIMBABWECRICKET #ZC #BANGLADESHCRICKETTEAM
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 5, 2018
Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz initiated the first blow on Zimbabwe, removing opener Brian Chari for four.
Six overs later, Taijul accounted for his first wicket in the innings, that of wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor, to leave Zimbabwe reeling on 47 for the loss of two wickets.
Captain Hamilton Masakadza and left-handed batsman Sean Williams offered some resistance, adding 54 for the third wicket before Miraz removed Masakadza for 48.
Zimbabwe added 20 more runs on the board when Taijul made a double strike, dismissing Williams and middle-order batsman Peter Moor in the 42nd over.
In the next over, Taijul removed all-rounder Sikandar Raza as Zimbabwe found themselves on 130 losing six wickets.
Stumps, Day 3. Bangladesh need 295 more runs to win the first Test. #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/2HdAz3xzAQ
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 5, 2018
Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Apu and Miraz cleaned up the lower order while Taijul drove in the final coffin, removing No 11 batter Tendai Chatara as Zimbabwe folded for 181, setting Bangladesh 321 for victory.
Given Bangladesh’s poor performance with the bat in the first innings, and apparently in the last seven matches, the expectation was thin when openers Liton Das and Imrul Kayes walked to the middle.
The duo however, ensured no damage was done in the last 10.1 overs of play on the day before the match officials removed the bails 35 minutes early than the scheduled time due to bad light.
Imrul and Liton with a safe approach added 26 to shorten the chase on day four at SICS. Imrul and Liton were unbeaten on 14 and 12 respectively.
The fourth and penultimate day of the game Tuesday will start at 9:30am to recover the loss of time on the third day.
1ST TEST, DAY 3
ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS R B
Masakadza lbw b Jayed 52 105
Chari b Taijul 13 31
Taylor c Shanto b Taijul 6 15
Williams c Miraz b Mahmudullah 88 173
Raza b Nazmul 19 52
Moor not out 63 192
Chakabva c Shanto b Taijul 28 85
Wellington c Mushfiq b Taijul 4 28
Mavuta lbw b Nazmul 3 14
Jarvis c Miraz b Taijul 4 9
Chatara c Liton b Taijul 0 1
Extras (b 1, lb 1) 2
Total (117.3 Overs) 282 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-35 (Chari), 2-47 (Taylor), 3-85 (Masakadza), 4-129 (Raza), 5-201 (Williams), 6-261 (Chakabva), 7-268 (Wellington), 8-273 (Mavuta), 9-282 (Jarvis), 10-282 (Chatara)
Bowling
Jayed 21-3-68-1, Taijul 39.3-7-108-6, Ariful 4-1-7-0, Miraz 27-8-45-0, Nazmul 23-6-49-2, Mahmudullah 3-0-3-1
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Liton c Chakabva b Jarvis 9 25
Imrul b Chatara 5 13
Mominul c Masakadza b Raza 11 38
Shanto c Chakabva b Chatara 5 5
Mahmudullah b Chatara 0 2
Mushfiq c Chakabva b Jarvis 31 54
Ariful not out 41 96
Miraz c & b Williams 21 33
Taijul c Chakabva b Raza 8 24
Nazmul c Chari b Raza 4 15
Jayed run out (Chatara) 0 1
Extras (b 7, lb 1) 8
Total (51 Overs) 143 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-8 (Imrul), 2-14 (Liton), 3-19 (Shanto), 4-19 (Mahmudullah), 5-49 (Mominul), 6-78 (Mushfiq), 7-108 (Miraz), 8-131 (Taijul), 9-143 (Nazmul), 10-143 (Jayed)
Bowling
Jarvis 11-2-28-2, Chatara 10-4-19-3, Mavuta 6-0-27-0, Raza 12-2-35-3, Wellington 8-2-21-0, Williams 4-0-5-1
ZIMBABWE 2ND INNINGS OVERNIGHT 1/0 IN 2 OVERS R B
Masakadza lbw b Miraz 48 104
Chari b Miraz 4 33
Taylor c Imrul b Taijul 24 25
Williams b Taijul 20 65
Raza b Taijul Islam 25 30
Moor c Liton b Taijul 0 1
Chakabva c Mahmudullah b Nazmul 20 65
Wellington lbw b Miraz 17 60
Mavuta c Ariful b Nazmul 6 4
Jarvis not out 1 3
Chatara lbw b Taijul 8 4
Extras (b 4, lb 4) 8
Total (65.4 Overs) 181 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-19 (Chari), 2-47 (Taylor), 3-101 (Masakadza), 4-121 (Williams), 5-121 (Moor), 6-130 (Raza), 7-165 (Wellington), 8-172 (Chakabva), 9-173 (Mavuta), 10-181 (Chatara)
Bowling
Taijul 28.4-8-62-5, Nazmul 6-1-27-2, Jayed 7-1-25-0, Miraz 19-7-48-3, Mahmudullah 4-1-7-0, Mominul 1-0-4-0
BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS R B
Liton not out 14 38
Imrul not out 12 23
Extras 0
Total 26/0 (10.1 Overs)
Bowling
Jarvis 5-2-11-0, Chatara 5-1-15-0, Raza 0.1-0-0-0
Bangladesh need 295 runs to win
