Ton-up Mominul, Mushi put Tigers in command
Record runs in 4th wicket for Bangladesh
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh wrestled back in admirable fashion after a jittery start to take the command over Zimbabwe on the opening day of the second and final Test yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim was key in Bangladeshs revival from a precarious 26 for three, as the duo shared a record 266-run partnership for the fourth wicket to guide Bangladesh to a hefty 303 for five before the bails were drawn for day one. Momimul smashed an eye-catching 161 while Mushfiqur Rahim played a second fiddle to him to be unbeaten on 111, helping Bangladesh to cross score over 200 for the first time after eight Test innings.
Mominuls seventh Test ton, which was also his third 150-plus knock, highest by any Bangladeshi batsman was designed with 19 boundaries and gave Bangladesh a firm control after Zimbabwe fast bowlers had Bangladesh wobbled inside first hour of the game.
Mushfiqur who raised his first century after 21 months since his 127 against India in Hyderabad gave Mominul the support, playing his part serenely. The duo had near-complete control
of Zimbabwes bowlers who had earlier capitalized on some reckless shot selection by Bangladeshs batsmen to have the hosts in trouble. Zimbabwe fast bowlers Kyle Jarvis and Donald Tiripano rattled through the hosts top order in the first hour, with Jarvis making the first breakthrough in the seventh over, dismissing opener Imrul Kayes for no score after the batsman got an inside edge to offer a catch behind the wicket.
The hosts then compounded their poor start when other opener Liton Das (9) played a loose shot and chipped straight to mid-wicket off Jarviss next over.
Tiripano then got the better of debutant Mohammad Mithun (0) who offered a catch to first slip chasing a wide delivery.
But Mominul and Mushfiqur steadied the ship for Bangladesh, with the former raising his century, from 150 balls, with his 12th boundary as the hosts rallied in the afternoon.
They looked nervous initially with Zimbabwe fast bowlers utilising the early moisture perfectly to swing the ball in both ways. Mominul even was dropped when he was 9 while Mushfiqur survived from numerous edges. But they hung on against all adversities that paid a rich dividend.
As Bangladesh went with lunch on 56 for three, things still looked ominous. The duo however played a wicket-less session post lunch to establish Bangladeshs firm control over the Test.
Mushfiqurs sixth Test century came off 187 balls with the help of eight boundaries and he celebrated his century animatedly, with an air punch, but didnt stop there.
Together Mominul and Mushfiqur brought up Bangladeshs highest partnership against Zimbabwe, before fast bowler Tendai Chatara dismissed Mominul with the second new ball. They also bettered the previous best of 180 for fourth wicket in which Mominul was part alongside Liton Das during Bangladeshs first Test against Sri Lanka in last February. Incidentally that was the last time Bangladesh, got past 200 runs before this Test.
Mushfiqur however looked to be destined for a bigger thing, evidencing in his more careful approach after the century. Kyle Jarvis removed nightwatchman Taijul Islam (4) in the penultimate over but stand-in skipper Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur saw off the day without further fuss. Jarvis claimed three for 48 while Tiripano and Chatara scalped one apiece.
