Nayeem relives Bangladesh after Ervine ton

Craig Ervine struck a dogged hundred but off-spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed 4-68 to help Bangladesh reduce Zimbabwe to 228-6 at stumps on the first day of the one-off Test in Mirpur on Saturday.

Evrine, who was leading Zimbabwe in place their regular skipper Sean Williams, made 107 off 227 balls while Prince Masvaure also struck career-best 64 runs but Bangladeshi bowlers claimed three wickets in the final session to finish the day par.

Nayeem dismissed Sikandar Raza for 18 after the tea break while pacer Abu Jayed (2-51) trapped Timycen Maruma in front for 7, which reduced Zimbabwe to 199-5.

Evrine continued his impressive batting and completed his third Test hundred but he fell prey to Nayeem during the penultimate over of the day’s play and was bowled after hitting 13 fours.

Earlier Nayeem took two wickets in the second session to bring some respite for Bangladesh.

Nayeem dismissed Masvaure with a straightforward catch off his own bowling, ending the batsman’s 111-run second wicket stand with Ervine.

Nayeem then bowled Brendan Taylor for 10 in his next over and helped Bangladesh reduce Zimbabwe to 150-3 at tea break.

Masvaure, who hit his second Test fifty, was earlier dropped on 59 off the same bowler at slip by Nazmul Haossain, who failed to grab a regulatory catch.

Bangladesh got the only success in the opening session courtesy of pacer Abu Jayed when opener Kevin Kasuza gave a catch to Nayeem at gully for two after Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first.

Bangladeshi pacer duo Jayed and Ebadat Hossain earlier exhibited good bowling performances as they tested both the Zimbabwean openers in the first half-an-hour of the session.

Masvaure and Ervine then fought back well for the visitors and didn’t give Bangladeshi bowlers any chance in the remaining session to put their side top in the contest.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim returned to Bangladesh’s playing XI after he opted to skip their last Test match against Pakistan earlier this month.

Zimbabwe handed pacer Charlton Tshuma the debutant’s cap in what is 100th international match between the two teams.

The Tigers have come into this match with losing all their last six Tests while Zimbabwe narrowly lost their home series against Sri Lanka 0-1.

Dhaka/AKA