Taibu Triumph but Bangladesh crawl.

The Second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe remains fairly even after a very slow day that was brightened by a superb maiden Test century from away skipper Tatenda Taibu.

In all, only 181 runs were scored for the loss of 4 wickets in 88 overs as a fascinating final was set up by Taibu's superb knock.

The wicket-keeper had resumed on 81 not out, and proceeded to score 72 out of the 83 runs Zimbabawe scored in the day, almost all of them in a stand of 67 with Douglas Hondo - the paceman's share being 3.

This enabled a target of 374 in 147 overs to be set, a run rate that looks gettable, but the Bangladesh approach was very much one of safety first.

In spite of no fewer than 8 bowlers being used for a total of 57 overs, no breakthrough was possible, but Nafis Iqbal (55 from 161) and Javed Omar (a painstaking 36 from 187) only scored 98 runs.

At that rate it'll take about a week for them to get the target, but with 1 day left they're on the verge of a maiden Test Series victory.

ZIMBABWE 298
Taibu 85*, Matsikenyeri 51, Enamul Haque jnr 7-95
BANGLADESH 211
Mohammad Rafique 56, Hondo 6-59
ZIMBABWE 286
Taibu 153, Taylor 78, Enamul Haque jnr 5-105
BANGLADESH 98-0
Nafis Iqbal 55*, Javed Omar 36*

Posted by Marc