HARARE, Feb 19: Tapash Baisya and Mohammad Rafique took two wickets each as Bangladesh earned parity with Zimbabwe on the first day of the first Test on Thursday.

Zimbabwe, who won the toss and chose to bat, were 175 for four when bad light ended play one over early on a day reduced to 74 overs by overnight rain. Seamer Baisya took two for 47 and left-arm spinner Rafique claimed two for 41.

Their success negated the early progress Zimbabwe made thanks to opener Dion Ebrahim's 65 and 58 from Stuart Carlisle. After the morning session was washed out after heavy overnight rain, Bangladesh made an early breakthrough when Trevor Gripper edged Baisya to Habibul Bashar at first slip without a run on the board.

On a sluggish pitch that gave inconsistent bounce Carlisle and Ebrahim then shared a stand of 107 but they had to survive a fourth over scare when Ebrahim pushed a delivery from Baisya towards mid-off and set off on an ill-judged single.

Baisya fielded but his throw just missed the stumps with Carlisle well out of his ground. Carlisle made the most of his escape to hit six fours and a six in his 119-ball stay, particularly favouring the cut shot and cover drive.

The stand was ended 11 balls after tea when Carlisle drove Baisya firmly to the bowler's left and was well caught low down. Ebrahim, who hit eight fours in 3 1/2 hours at the crease, was dismissed 13 overs later when he lunged at a short but sharply turning delivery from Rafique and was easily stumped by wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud.

In Rafique's next over Grant Flower, on five, top-edged an attempted pull and was caught by Hannan Sarkar at midwicket as Zimbabwe slumped to 133 for four. Tatenda Taibu was 25 not out with Sean Ervine on 18 in a steadying unbroken stand of 42 for the fifth wicket.

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