Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is confident of Bangladesh securing a win in the ongoing second and final Test match at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
The Tigers had come into the game after being defeated in the first Test in Sylhet, and eager to save the series 1-1 with a win.
This time, the Bangladesh batsmen finally stood up with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and No 3 batter Mominul Haque scoring big as they posted a mammoth total of 522 runs for seven before declaring.
The Bangladesh bowlers then dismissed an experienced Zimbabwe batting line-up for 304, just ahead of stumps on day three Tuesday.
Taijul was the chief destroyer with his third consecutive five-wicket haul in the format as off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz picked up three scalps.
A third straight five-for in the series for Taijul Islam ?
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 13, 2018
Will Bangladesh enforce the follow-on? https://t.co/63LTliGeA3 #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/EQpcs8TFiM
Occasional pacer Ariful Haque picked up his maiden Test wicket, that of middle-order batsman Peter Moor, to break a frustrating 139-run stand with stumper-batsman Brendan Taylor for the sixth wicket.
With a 218-run lead, Bangladesh have the rare opportunity to put the opposition in a follow-on as Zimbabwe were short by 19 runs.
“I am getting to bowl more (with Shakib al Hasan not in the team). The workload would have been less if he was playing but to be honest I am enjoying the role I am playing,” said Taijul to the media after the day’s play Tuesday.
“We might have taken a bit of time to get them all-out but we are happy with the overall effort. They had a good partnership in the middle. There will be partnerships in cricket but we did not lose hope and kept our focus.
“I believe we are in a very good position. Whether we impose the follow-on or not, doing our job properly will produce good results for us,” he added.
Five wickets for Taijul Islam!
— ICC (@ICC) November 13, 2018
40.3 overs, 5/107. A Herculean effort.
Zimbabwe have been dismissed for 304, slipping from 270/5 late on Day 3. Will Bangladesh enforce the follow on tomorrow?#BANvZIM SCORE ⬇️https://t.co/hDFNdAlz4s pic.twitter.com/nQNYzqdVCX
With his fifth five wicket-haul achieved in the Zimbabwe innings, Taijul emerged as the third Bangladesh bowler to record three successive fifers in Test.
With star all-rounder Shakib missing from the series due to injury, Taijul is doing the lion’s share of the duty, and with aplomb by bagging regular wickets.
2ND TEST, DAY 3
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Liton c Mavuta b Jarvis 9 35
Imrul c Chakabva b Jarvis 0 16
Mominul c Chari b Chatara 161 247
Mithun c Taylor b Jarvis 0 4
Mushfiq not out 219 421
Taijul c Chakabva b Jarvis 4 10
Mahmudullah c Chakabva b Jarvis 36 110
Ariful c Chari b Jarvis 4 18
Miraz not out 68 102
Extras (b 9, lb 8, nb 3, w 1) 21
Total (160 Overs) 522/7d
Fall Of Wickets
1-13 (Imrul), 2-16 (Liton), 3-26 (Mithun), 4-292 (Mominul), 5-299 (Taijul), 6-372 (Mahmudullah), 7-378 (Ariful)
Bowling
Jarvis 28-6-71-5, Chatara 22.2-12-34-1, Tiripano 24.4-6-65-1, Raza 22-1-111-0, Williams 30-4-80-0, Mavuta 31-1-137-0, Masakadza 2-0-7-0
ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS R B
Masakadza c Miraz b Taijul 14 44
Tiripano c Miraz b Taijul 8 46
Taylor c Taijul b Miraz 110 194
Williams b Taijul 11 28
Raza b Taijul 0 12
Moor lbw b Ariful 83 114
Chakabva c Mominul b Taijul 10 42
Mavuta c Ariful b Miraz 0 2
Jarvis not out 9 23
Chatara absent hurt - -
Extras (b 5, lb 1) 6
Total (105.3 Overs) 304
Fall Of Wickets
2-40 (Tiripano), 3-96 (Chari), 4-129 (Williams), 5-131 (Raza), 6-270 (Moor), 7-290 (Taylor), 8-290 (Mavuta), 9-304 (Chakabva)
Bowling
Mustafizur 21-8-58-0, Khaled 18-7-48-0, Taijul 40.3-10-107-5, Miraz 20-3-61-3, Mahmudullah 2-0-14-0, Ariful 4-2-10-1
Zimbabwe trail by 218 runs
