Mushfiq, Mominul put Bangladesh on top

Mushfiqur Rahim completed his third double century in Tests after Mominul Haque made a hundred as Bangladesh consolidated their position in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Dhaka on Monday.

Bangladesh declared their first innings with 560-6 with 295-run lead after Mushfiq reached the milestone to stay 203 not out.

Spinner Nayeem Hasan then struck twice in two balls in the first over of Zimbabwe’s second innings to leave the visitors reduced to nine for two at stumps on the third day.

Nayeem’s double strike late in the day raised the hopes for a rare Test win for Bangladesh as Zimbabwe still need 286 runs to make the hosts bat again.

Mushfiq and Mominul, who made 132, provided the backbone in Bangladesh innings as the hosts dominated the third day’s play after resuming on 240-3.

Mushfiq and Mominul added 222 runs in their fourth wicket stand and made Zimbabwe wait until the second session of the day for their first success.

Mominul hit pacer Donald Tiripano a boundary at mid-off to complete his hundred off 156 balls.

With the innings, Mominul, who was unbeaten on 79 overnight, joined team-mate Tamim Iqbal to score most Test century for Bangladesh.

Ainsley Ndlovu took a brilliant reflex catch off his own bowling to dismiss Mominul, who struck 14 fours in his first hundred since becoming Bangladesh Test captain in November.

Mushfiq, who resumed on 32, was one run short of his century at lunch but did not take much time after the break to bring up his hundred cutting Ndlovu for a boundary through cover point.

Ndlovu also removed Mohammad Mithun for 17 to give Zimbabwe something to cherish, which also slowed down Bangladesh free flowing innings.

Mithun got a bottom edge as he tried to cut Ndlovu. Liton Das then made 53 runs before he fell to off-spinner Sikandar Raza.

Liton also tried to cut a ball that was spinning in as Regis Chakabva took his fifth catch in the innings, the highest by a wicketkeeper in a Test innings.
After Liton’s dismissal, it was Mushfiq all over as the senior Bangladesh campaigner upped the tempo in the innings with a looming declaration.

At 195 runs, Mushfiq also overtook Tamim to become now Bangladesh’s leading scorer in Test.

Zimbabwe earlier were bowled out for 265 runs in their first innings with their skipper Craig Ervine making highest 107 runs.

Pacer Abu Jayed and off-spinner Nayeem finished with 4-71 and 4-70 respectively.

Dhaka/AKA