Hondo takes six as Bangladesh wilt

Zimbabwean paceman Douglas Hondo put in the best performance of his Test career to leave his side well on top at the end of the second day of the second Test against Bangladesh. Hondo took six wickets to reduce the hosts to 169/8, after Zimbabwe had compiled 298 batting first.

Resuming at 244/6, Zimbabwe looked to build a big first innings total, but were kept in check by Mashrafe Mortaza, who struck first, removing Panyangara for 21. From there the young Bangladeshi spinner Enamul Haque jr. shone again, after his man of the match performance in the first Test. He bowled Cremer cheaply, before some stubborn resistance from Hondo allowed his captain, Taibu, to improve on his overnight 49*. Enamul eventually finished things off though, removing Hondo and last man Mpofu in successive deliveries to record a career-best 7-95, improving on his 6-45 in the first Test. Taibu again dominated the Zimbabwean card with a resilient captain's knock of 85*.

On familiar turf in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi opening pair of Javed Omar and Nafis Iqbal began brightly, feasting on loose bowling from Mpofu and Panyangara. After rattling up a partnership of 58 in little over 16 overs, the introduction of Hondo heralded Bangladesh's demise. Omar fell first, cutting a delivery into Taibu's waiting gloves for 34, while Nafis played a lazy legside stroke to be caught behind on 28, leaving the hosts 71/2.

Mohammad Ashraful was again unable to replicate the form that netted him an unbeaten century against India recently, missing a straight one, again from Hondo, to be trapped LBW for only 5. The biggest blow came four overs later, when, after an uncharacteristically slow 10 from 48 deliveries, Bashar found his stumps skittled to give Hondo four from four. The blow was particularly crucial as the Bangladeshi captain was instrumental in setting up the first Test victory with scores of 94 and 55.

Hondo extended his devastating spell to account for Aftab Ahmed and Khaled Mashud for ducks, the latter giving his his sixth and final wicket for the day. Mohammad Rafique boosted his claims for allrounder status though, reviving Bangladesh somewhat from a perilous 107/6 with an aggressive half-century, his second in as many Tests. After belting seven fours and a six despite a foot injury, Rafique fell eventually for 56, hitting out once too often against part-timer Masakadza. Cremer also picked up a wicket, that of Rajin Saleh for 24. Mashrafe and Tapash took Bangladesh to stumps on four and zero respectively, and their partnership may be crucial in determining the course of the game tomorrow. Mashrafe is in form with the bat, narrowly missing a half-century in the first Test and having made several valuable contributions in the ODI series against India.

Score Summary: Stumps Day 2

ZIMBABWE 298 all out in 118 overs
T Taibu 85*, S Matsikenyeri 51; Enamul Haque jr. 7-95

BANGLADESH 169/8 in 63 overs
Mohammad Rafique 59; DT Hondo 6-45

Bangladesh trail by 129 runs with two wickets in hand

Posted by Adam