History made, but more to come?

Bangladesh are well in control of the First Test against Zimbabwe.

After posting a new National Test record for highest innings, they went on to remove 4 of the opposition before the close.

It had started well for the visitors, as Aftab Ahmed was trapped LBW by Christopher Mpofu without adding to his overnight 6 in the 3rd over of the morning, but from 283-5, the lower-middle order took over as first wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud scored a watchful 49 from 120 balls before Mohammad Rafique and Mashrafe Mortaza took control, Rafique hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes in his second Test half century and Mortaza hammering a career-best of 48 from just 44 balls. As the other overnight batsman Rajin Saleh had also notched a career best, they were able to push the score onto 472-7 before a fightack led by Mpofu saw the last 3 men fall for 16.

Still the final score of 488 was 72 more than they'd ever made before, and meant that Zimbabwe's first target would be 289 to avoid following on.

The openers played contrasting innings in response as Stuart Matsikenyeri swiftly moved to 28 from 30 balls, but debutant Barney Rogers made just 5 from 47. Matsikenyeri was first to go, edging to slip with the score on 31, but the introduction of Rafique was the key moment.

The left arm spinner picked up 2 wickets in 13 balls, trapping both Vusi Sibanda and Graeme Cramer leg before wicket, and with Rogers run out in between after backing up too far and being caught out by a straight drive, the innings had subsided to 59-4.

By the close, sensible batting from Brendan Taylor and the returning Hamilton Masakadza saw no further losses, but they will resume tomorrow still 404 runs behind and in grave danger of being the first side to lose to Bangladesh in Test Cricket.


BANGLADESH 488
Bashar 94, Saleh 89, Rafique 69, Mashud 49, Mortaza 48, Mpofu 4-109
ZIMBABWE 84-4
Rafique 2-15

Posted by Marc