CHITTAGONG (Bangladesh), Nov 18: A record second-wicket partnership between Javed Omar and Habibul Bashar gave Bangladesh hope of avoiding an innings defeat in the second Test against Zimbabwe Sunday.

Bangladesh were 227 for four in their second innings at the close on the fourth day after being forced to follow on, still 64 runs short of making Zimbabwe bat again.

The tourists declared their first innings at 542 for seven before bowling Bangladesh out for 251.

Opener Omar was unbeaten on 80 at the close, with Mohammad Ashraful on one.

Omar and Bashar added 122 for the second wicket to surpass their previous record of 102 against Zimbabwe in April and help Bangladesh reach 184 for one at tea.

But part-time spinner Grant Flower, who was instrumental in Bangladesh’s first-innings collapse when he took four for 43, grabbed three quick wickets just after tea.

Flower broke the second-wicket stand when Bashar, whose 76 included 12 boundaries, lifted a catch to substitute Paul Strang at mid-off with the total on 195.

Bashar, who scored 108 in the first innings, came in after opener Al Shariar was trapped lbw for 40 when he tried to block a delivery from Henry Olonga, one of six bowlers used by Zimbabwe captain Stuart Carlisle.

Flower’s other victims were Aminul Islam and Akram Khan.