Liton, Mominul, Mahmudullah fifties carry Bangladesh to safety on opening day

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Blessing posed questions for the Bangladesh batters early in the day as he returned 3/48 before half-centuries from Liton Das, Mominul, and Mahmudullah resuscitated the innings to help the visitors go into stumps at 294/8 on the opening day of the one-off Test in Harare.

Earlier, Mominul Haque opted to bat and Bangladesh encountered a bumpy start with the fall of opener Saif Hassan for nought in the very first over.

Muzarabani soon followed the Hassan clean bowled with an out-swinger that outdid Najmul Hossain Shanto (2) in the fifth over – edged and caught by Dion Myers in the slip cordon.

Then, it was the fifty-run partnership between Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam that carried forward the rebuilding. The pair added 60 runs for the third-wicket before Shadman perished to Richard Ngarava for 23.

Bangladesh went into lunch with 70/3 on the scoreboard and captain Mominul still holding guard alongside Mushfiqur Rahim.

However, the afternoon session saw Zimbabwe strangle the Bangladesh middle-order as an implosion was triggered. Despite a couple of dropped chances of Mominul and Mushfiqur in the field, the hosts were able to make a strong statement with the ball.

Mushfiqur became Muzarabani’s third scalp as he offered no shot and was adjudged leg before wicket for 11 off 30 balls.

From 106/3, Bangladesh crumbled to 132/6 as Shakib Al Hasan went back for 3 runs after he nicked one straight to the keeper, followed by Mominul who succumbed to Victor Nyauchi after a clinical knock of 70 from 92 deliveries.

The duo of Liton Das and Mahmudullah carried Bangladesh to safety as they stitched together an all-important partnership of 138 off 256 balls.

In the final hour, just as Liton was about to reach the three-figure mark in Tests for the first time, Tiripano snared his wicket after Liton miscued one to Nyauchi at long-leg who took a diving catch. Liton’s gritty innings of 95 came in 147 balls and included 13 fours.

One wicket brought another for Zimbabwe and Tiripano. Mehidy Hasan came and went immediately for a golden duck, however, Mahmudullah fought back with his 17th Test half-century.

Mahmudullah (54*) and Taskin Ahmed (13*) took Bangladesh to stumps as bad light meant the day had to end earlier than scheduled with 83 overs bowled.