Terrific Mahmudullah keeps Bangladesh aloft over Zimbabwe

DHAKA - Mahmudullah Riyad struck a sublime 150
not out on his return to the side's longer version format as
Bangladesh kept them aloft over Zimbabwe in the one-off Test at Harare
Sports Club.

  Mahmudullah's fifth ton in his 50th Test guided the side to 468
before being all out in the first innings, after which, Zimbabwe ended
the second day on 114-1.

 The Tigers now lead Zimbabwe by 354 runs and appeared to have the
upper-hand over the Test with the pitch showing the sign of
deteriorating.

  Stand in skipper Brandan Taylor was batting on 37 with debutant
opener Takudzawanashe Kaitano on 33.

  Zimbabwe made a strong reply, thanks to Kaitano and Milton Shumba
who added 61 runs for the opening stand.

  The stand was broken after left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan trapped
Shumba leg-before for 41.

  Kaitano however held the nerve on his debut and Taylor denied
Bangladesh taking further inroad, sharing 53 runs so far for the
undefeated second wicket stand.

  But Bangladesh ended the day with little edge. Mahmudullah and
Taskin Ahmed indeed were the reason for the Tigers to savour the day.

  Resuming the day on 294-8, overnight pair Mahmudullah and Taskin
Ahmed stretched their ninth wicket partnership to 191 runs, which was
highest for Bangladesh in this wicket and second highest in the Test
history behind South Africa's Marck Boucher and Pat Symcox's 195
against Pakistan.

  The partnership was key in helping Bangladesh to a strong total.
Taskin was the ninth batsman to be out on 75 after hitting 11
boundaries in 111 balls.

  After his dismissal, Mahmudullah reached 150 but the No.11 batsman
Ebadot Hossain was removed for naught after playing eight balls as
Bangladesh's innings came to an end.

  Mahmudullah's unbeaten 150 off 278 was included 17 fours and one six.

  As they began the second day, Mahmudullah and Taskin paced the
scoreboard, batting fluently, a strategy that made the Zimbabwe
bowlers stunned and disarray.

  Mahmudullah who started the day on 54, brought up his ton with
consecutive boundary off offspinner Roy Kaia-the second one he cracked
through to cover-point four for his century off 195 balls.

  Immediate next over, Taskin pushed one off pace bowler Richard
Ngarava to mid-on for a single to complete his maiden first class
half-century off 69 balls.

  But both of them looked more compact after reaching their respective
milestone, keeping Zimbabwe bowler at bay.

  Blessing Muzarabani was the most successful bowler for Zimbabwe with
4-94 while Victor Nyauchi and Donals Tiripano claimed two wickets
apiece.

  Earlier on the opening day, Liton Das and skipper Mominul Haque led
the way to keep Bangladesh at safe position after they were reduced to
8-2 and then 3-68. Later they lost two stalwarts Shakib Al Hasan and
Mushfiqur Rahim in the space of five balls to be left to in tricky
109-5.

  With Zimbabwe appearing to take the full control, Mominul first led
the resistance with 92 ball-70 and then Liton bailed the side out of
danger with scintillating 95 off 147.BSS