Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe One Off Teat Played at SBNCS 22-26 February 2020
Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day Two
Zimbabwe Ist Innings 265 All Out In 106.3 Overs (CR Ervine 107, PS Masvure64, R Chakava 30, Naeem Hasan 4/70, Abu Jayed 4/71 and Taijul Islam 2/90), Bangladesh 1st Innings 240/3 in 71 Overs. (Mominul Haque 79*, Nazmul Hossain 71, Tamim Iqbal 41 Mushfiqur Rahim 32, DT Tripano 1/40, VM Nyauchi 1/41 )
Bangladesh trails by 25 runs in the 1st Innings with 7 wickets at hand.
Great incisive bowling by Abu Jayed in the morning of day two restricted Zimbabwean first innings to 265. Tamim, Shanto, Mominul and Mushfique then batted with care against soft Zimbabwean attack taking Bangladesh to a comfortable position of 240/3 stumps of day two. One can reasonably expect that Bangladesh with two of their most accomplished batsmen Mominul and Mushfique together at the wicket and Liton and Mithun to follow would take sizable first innings lead by stumps of day three . The wicket may take turn on day four. Tourists may struggle against Bangladesh attack to save the test. But it is cricket. One never knows what happens when.
We are not this under strength Zimbabwean team (perhaps the weakest ever touring Bangladesh) in 100th international match between the two teams has enough quality to test Bangladesh. Yet they batted well enough in the first innings to post 265 all out. The captain Ervine was the sheet anchor scoring 107. On a not so favorable wicket Jayed swung the ball prodigiously on the second morning negating any possibility of tail wagging and Taijul mopped up the tail. Naeem Hasan on day one was the peak of the Bangladesh bowlers. Tourists could reach 265 all out playing 106.3 overs in almost four sessions. Nayeem took 4/70, Jayed finished with 4/71 and Taijul took 2/90. None could give Chakava (30) company longer to extend the innings.
Bangladesh was expected to start well against the friendly fire of tourists opening attack. Rookkie Saif played two delightful strokes. But the youngster would soon realize that test cricket and international cricket are all together a different ball game. He may not get any more opportunity to bat again in this test if Bangladesh takes a big lead. I do not think from the three innings he has played so far selectors would risk him taking to Pakistan. He poked at a ball leaving him from Nyauchi to Chakava. Hope he will be mentored well by the batting coach. Tamim and Nzmul settled down to a long innings playing each ball to their merit. Nazmul Shanto looked very confident .Nazmul among the ruins of Bangladesh batting against Pakistan also looked solid. He showed the right temperament of test batting. Tamim was also looking good and the pair put on 78 runs in the second wicket before Tamim also nicked behind of the bowling of Tripano scoring 41. Tamim lost a golden opportunity of showcasing his form with a long innings. Mominul and Nazmul they batted sensibly. Nazmul was looking set for his maiden century. But he also could not avoid a lifting delivery of Tshuma after reaching 71. Chakava took his 3rd catch behind the wicket. The 3rd wicket partnership 76 useful runs.
Little bird Mominul was looking calm and composed. This prolific run getter was passing through a dry spell for a long time. He had torrid experience off late against India and Pakistan. Today he looked solid. His ideal partner Mushfique joined him and two in unfinished 4th wicket added 68 valuable runs. At stumps Mominul was on well made 79 off 120 deliveries and Mushfique was on 32. These two are the two most accomplished batsmen of Bangladesh test team. Both are capable of producing long hundreds. Mominul before the match promised him and his batsmen would produce 100, 200 and 300.
Any large lead by Bangladesh would put enormous pressure on the tourists. However, tomorrow is another day. Bangladesh is still 25 runs behind. But given the quality of the tourist attack and hunger of Bangladesh batsmen Bangladesh should bat till an hour after team adding another 200 -220. We can only say advantage is with home team now.
BDST: 1810 HRS, FEB 23, 2020
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