HARARE, Feb 20: Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak followed his 10th Test half-century with an early wicket on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh on Friday.
When bad light ended play early, Bangladesh were 14 for one in reply to Zimbabwe's 441. Zimbabwe, who resumed their first innings at 175 for four, built their handsome total on the back of six half-centuries.
Sean Ervine top-scored with a Test career best of 86 from 197 balls with 11 fours compiled in more than four hours at the crease. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, taking four for 121 from 57 overs.
Tatenda Taibu and Ervine took their overnight fifth-wicket stand to 125 before Taibu was trapped in front by Rafique in the 12th over before lunch. Taibu scored 59, his third half-century, in almost three hours at the crease during which he faced 126 balls and hit nine fours.
Taibu and Ervine unsettled the Bangladeshis with their contrasting approaches. The bustling Taibu scored most of his runs with nudging strokes behind square on both sides of the wicket.
Ervine was out in the ninth over after lunch when he pushed tentatively at a delivery from medium pacer Tapash Baisya and was caught by Hannan Sarkar at second slip. An hour before tea Andy Blignaut, on seven, was stumped by Khaled Mashud off Rafique.
The aggressive Gavin Ewing then joined Streak, and together they added 106 for the eighth wicket in a stand that drained the fight out of the Bangladeshis. Mushfiqur Rahman ended the stand when Streak flicked at a leg-side delivery and was smartly caught behind by Mashud for 68.
Streak batted for 3-1/2 hours, faced 178 balls and hit seven fours and a six. Ray Price scored nine before skying a delivery from Mushfiqur to Rajin Saleh at extra cover. The same bowler ended the innings when he had Ewing caught behind by Mashud for 71.
Ewing's maiden half-century came in just his second Test innings. He was at the crease for almost 2-1/2 hours, faced 112 balls and hit seven fours and a six.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE (1st Innings, overnight 175-4):
D.D. Ebrahim st Khaled b Rafique 65
T.R. Gripper c Habibul b Baisya 0
S.V. Carlisle c and b Baisya 58
G.W. Flower c Hannan b Rafique 5
T. Taibu lbw b Rafique 59
S.M. Ervine c Hannan b Baisya 86
H.H. Streak c Khaled b Mushfiqur 68
A.M. Blignaut st Khaled b Rafique 7
G.W. Ewing c Khaled b Mushfiqur 71
R.W. Price c Rajin b Mushfiqur 9
D.T. Hondo not out 0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, W-3, NB-2) 13
TOTAL (all out, 160.2 overs) 441
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-107, 3-130, 4-133, 5-258, 6-299, 7-306, 8-412, 9-433.
BOWLING: Manjural Islam 28-8-69-0 (1nb, 1w); Tapash Baisya 36-6-133-3 (1w); Mushfiqur Rahman 24.2-8-75-3 (1nb, 1w); Mohammad Rafique 57-11-121-4; Manjural Islam Rana 13-4-26-0; Mohammad Ashraful 2-1-9-0.
BANGLADESH (1st Innings):
Hannan Sarkar lbw b Streak 4
Shahriar Hossain not out 8
Tapash Baisya not out 0
EXTRAS (NB-2) 2
TOTAL (for one wkt, 3.1 overs) 14
FALL OF WKT: 1-13.
BOWLING (to-date): Streak 2-1-5-1; Blignaut 1.1-0-9-0 (2nb). - Reuters