09 January 2005	Sunday	27 Ziqa'ad 1425

CHITTAGONG, Jan 8: Skipper Tatenda Taibu hit 92 and Elton Chigumbura 71 to steer Zimbabwe past the follow-on mark in the first Test against Bangladesh on Saturday.

At the close of the third day, Zimbabwe were 308 for eight, still 180 runs behind on the first innings.

Taibu capitalised on three missed catching chances to dampen Bangladesh's hopes of a first Test victory in their 35th match.

The skipper shared a stand of 119 for the seventh wicket with Chigumbura, who hit 10 boundaries and a six before being caught behind by Khaled Mashud off Mohammad Rafique.

Taibu, having guided Zimbabwe past the follow-on target of 289, fell eight runs short of a first Ttest century when he was trapped lbw by Rafique, who finished with four for 64.

Zimbabwe, who started the day on a precarious 84 for four, reached 154 for six at lunch after pace bowler Mashrafe Mortaza claimed two wickets.

Zimbabwe are playing their first Test since they were suspended by the International Cricket Council last June for fielding a weakened team after a dispute between their board and several leading white players.

Taibu expressed disappointment at missing his first Test century.

"Obviously I am disappointed because I would love to score a 100 and to carry on the score to 150. But it was not to be," he said.

"We managed to achieve our target to avoid the follow-on. Tomorrow we'll try to add a couple of runs."

Zimbabwe coach Phil Simmons praised his team's performance.

"I think we showed a lot of character in the way the captain and Chigumbura played today. It showed that there is a lot of fight in the team," Simmons said.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh (1st innings) 488 (Habibul Bashar 94, Rajin Saleh 89, Mohammad Rafique 69, Nafis Iqbal 56; Christopher Mpofu 4-109)

Zimbabwe (1st innings) (overnight 84-4)

S.Matsikenyeri c Bashar b Baisya 28

B.Rogers run out 5

V.Sibanda lbw Rafique 12

H.Masakadza b Mashrafe Mortaza 29

G.Cremer lbw Rafique 0

B.Taylor lbw Mashrafe Mortaza 39

T.Taibu lbw Rafique 92

E.Chigumbura c Khaled b Rafique 71

M.Nkala not out 20

D.Hondo not out 0

Extras (b-1 lb-1 nb-9 w-1)) 12

Total (for eight wkts, 122 overs) 308

Fall of wkts: 1-31 2-48 3-59 4-59 5-86 6-152 7-271 8-308

To bat: Christopher Mpofu

Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 26-10-56-2 (nb-2 w-1), Tapash Baisya 24-5-87-1 (nb-1), Mohammad Rafique 37-16-64-4, Enamul Haque Jnr 26-9-55-0 (nb-5), Mohammad Ashraful 5-0-19-0, Rajin Saleh 4-0-25-0 (nb-1).-Reuters