Nazmul, Mominul put Bangladesh in control

Nazmul Hossain and skipper Mominul Haque hit fifties as Bangladesh took the command in their one off-Test against Zimbabwe reaching 240-3 at stumps on the second day in Dhaka on Sunday.

Nazmul made 71 off 139 runs while Mominul remained unbeaten on 79, helping the Tigers close in on Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 265 runs, as they trail now only by 25 runs.

Nazmul led Bangladesh's initial charge after Victor Nyauchi removed opener Saif Hasan cheaply for eight to give Zimbabwe an early break through.

The young left-hander was involved in two sizable partnerships of 78 and 76 runs respectably with Tamim Iqbal and Mominul on his way to maiden Test fifty in what is his only his fourth Test.

Tamim made 41 runs before he edged Donald Tiripano to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva.

Debutant Charlton Tshuma dismissed Nazmul for his maiden Test wicket but Mominul, and Mushfiqur Rahim, 32 not out, averted further damage before stumps with an unbroken 68-run fourth wicket stand.

Pacer Abu Jayed earlier claimed career-best 4-71 and shared four wickets with left-arm spinner Taijul Islam as Bangladesh wrapped up Zimbabwe innings in one-hour and 20 minutes in the morning.

Zimbabwe could add 37 runs to their overnight score of 228-6 before losing their remaining wickets.

Jayed dismissed overnight batsman Donald Tiripano, who edged to wicketkeeper Liton Das after making eight runs.

Jayed then handed Ainsley Ndlovu a duck in his next over to give Bangladesh the second breakthrough on the day.

Taijul, who remained wicketless on day one, joined the act and trapped Charlton Tshuma for a duck in the next over before he dismissed another overnight batsman Regis Chakabva for 30 to end with 2-90.

Skipper Craig Ervine was the mainstay of Zimbabwe's innings with 107 while off-spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed the highest 4-70 for Bangladesh.

Dhaka/AKA