DHAKA, Jan 14: Skipper Tatenda Taibu stood firm with an unbeaten 49 to lead Zimbabwe to 244 for six wickets at the close on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Friday.

Bangladesh, who ended a long wait for a first Test victory by crushing Zimbabwe by 226 runs in the opening test, had moved into a strong position at tea before Taibu and Eltom Chigumbura, who hit 34, shared a stand of 50.

Spinner Enamul Haque junior, who won the man-of-the-match award in Chittagong by taking six for 45 in the second innings, again led the way as Zimbabwe slumped from 88 for one at lunch to 172 for five.

The 18-year-old took four of the wickets to fall and ended the day with figures of 4-74. Zimbabwe, making their way back in Test cricket after having their status suspended last year, looked well set after the first session, with Stuart Matsikenyeri, who was dropped on five, on the brink of a half-century.

He reached that mark shortly afterwards but was then bowled for 51 by Haque to spark a mini-collapse as three wickets fell for 15 runs. The spinner, playing in his fifth test, trapped Dion Ebrahim lbw for 12 and Brendan Taylor fell in the same way after making two.

Taibu added 60 for the fifth wicket with Hamilton Masakadza while Chigumbura clubbed three boundaries and two sixes before cutting to point where he was caught by Mohammad Ashraful to give Tapash Baisya his second wicket.

"We've set ourselves to a target of 350. The good thing is that we still have our captain at the wicket with Tinashe Panyangara, who can score runs," said Zimbabwe vice-captain Ebrahim.

"But the is we lost wickets at crucial times and the spinner did a good job. Enamul Haque bowled very well." Zimbabwe were suspended from tests last year after 15 of their leading white players walked out after accusing the selectors of favouring black players.

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