DHAKA: Shakib Al Hasan claimed 6-59 to spin Bangladesh into a strong position against Zimbabwe on the opening day of the first Test here on Saturday.

The left-arm spinner ripped through Zimbabwe on his way to his 12th five-for as the tourists were dismissed for 240 on the slow wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

At stumps, Bangladesh reached 27-1 to trail by 213. Mominul Haque was on 14 and Shamsur Rahman on 8.

Tamim Iqbal (7) was the only batsman out after he was undone by a rising delivery off Tinashe Panyangara, fending the ball to Masakadza who stretched high to hold the catch.

Shakib was returning to the national team after serving a three-month ban for his ‘severe attitude problem’. He behaved impeccably and his haul meant he has now taken five wickets against every Test nation.

For Bangladesh, the day started almost perfectly as Shahadat Hossain, back after a year, removed Vusi Sibanda in the first over.

Zimbabwe went in at lunch on a respectable 77-2 but Jubair Hossain, who at 19 became the first specialist leg-spinner to play Test cricket for Bangladesh, dismissed Taylor and Sikandar in quick succession after the break.

Most Zimbabwe batsmen started well but failed to carry on, with Shakib hastening their downfall. Jubair Hossain returned figures of 2-58.

Opener Sikandar Raza was top scorer with 51, including six fours, while Crag Ervine made 34. Elton Chigumbura (29) and captain Brendan Taylor (28) also contributed.

Sikandar and Taylor added 52 for the third wicket to help Zimbabwe settle before Bangladesh got back into the match with three quick wickets after lunch.

Sikandar playing in just his second Test, had to be watchful as the pitch gradually became slow and low. He was supported by Taylor initially before Jubair induced him with a flighted delivery to take his maiden wicket.

After Sikandar, Ervine held Zimbabwe together but he too fell with a needless shot to hasten his side’s collapse.

Shahadat Hossain and Taijul Islam claimed one wicket apiece for Bangladesh.

Scoreboard ZIMBABWE (1st innings):

V. Sibanda c Mushfiqur b Shahadat 6 S. Raza c Mahmudullah b Jubair 51 H. Masakadza c Jubair b Shakib 13 B. Taylor c Taijul b Jubair 28 E. Chigumbura c Mominul b Shakib 29 C. Ervine c Mominul b Taijul 34 R. Chakabva c Shamsur b Shakib 25 J. Nyumbu lbw b Shakib 14 T. Panyangara c sub b Shakib 8 T. Chatara not out 14 T. Kamungozi c Shamsur b Shakib 5

EXTRAS (B-12, NB-1) 13

TOTAL (all out, 75.5 overs) 240

FALL OF WKTS: 1-6, 2-31, 3-83, 4-128, 5-142, 6-192, 7-200, 8-221, 9-230.

BOWLING: Shahadat Hossain 14-1-45-1(1nb); Al-Amin Hossain 8-0-22-0; Shakib Al Hasan 24.5-5-59-6; Taijul Islam 13-3-42-1; Jubair Hossain 15-1-58-2; Mohammad Mahmudullah 1-0-2-0.

BANGLADESH (1st Innings):

Tamim Iqbal c Masakadza b Panyangara 5 Shamsur Rahman not out 8 Mominul Haque not out 14

EXTRAS 0

TOTAL (for one wkt, 12 overs) 27

FALL OF WKT: 1-10.

TO BAT: Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Jubair Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain.

BOWLING (to-date): Panyangara 5-0-20-1; Chatara 5-2-5-0; Chigumbura 1-1-0-0; Nyumbu 1-0-2-0.

UMPIRES: H.D.P.K. Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and S. Ravi (India).

TV UMPIRE: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014