Record-breaking Mushfiqur powers Bangladesh to mammoth total

Mushfiqur Rahim, who had walked in to bat on the first day with the score at 26/3, continued to exhibit exquisite batsmanship on the second day, helping Bangladesh to a mammoth first innings score. He combined with Mehidy Hasan, who hit a fabulous 68, in an unbroken 144-run partnership for the eighth wicket – also a Bangladesh record.

Bangladesh began the day on 303/5 with Mushfiqur on 111 with Mahmudullah for company on nought. The duo set the tone for the day, playing solidly to prop the score up to 372 before Mahmudullah nicked behind off Kyle Jarvis for 36 becoming the pace bowler's fourth wicket.

As part of the same spell, Jarvis got one to rear up a little bit more, and had Ariful Haque slicing one straight to point, claiming his third five-wicket haul and reducing the hosts to 378/7. Thereon Zimbabwe would have hoped, even expected, to wrap things up quickly, but they were in for more toil as Mushfiqur found a capable partner in Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

The experienced Rahim looked very adept playing the spinners and pacers alike, hardly playing a false stroke, thus living up to his billing as the most accomplished Test batsman in absence of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Mehidy Hasan took a leaf out of his book and started out solidly and the duo were happy to accumulate singles and twos without really trying to put the foot down initially.

But once the score got past 400, and Hasan started looking better set, the duo wisely decided to take the attack to the bowling. Zimbabwe's spin bowlers didn't help their own cause – for large parts they bowled waywardly and were unable to consistently apply pressure as they did in their team's win in the first Test at Sylhet.

The fielders too were a bit sloppy and were occasionally guilty of conceding singles that unnecessarily eased the pressure.

As for the pacers, Zimbabwe were severely impaired due to Tendai Chatara picking a suspected Grade 2 quad muscle strain early in the day. Jarvis remained on point, and Donald Tiripano began the day promisingly. But Tiripano's pace started dipping second spell onwards, and he wasn't able to pose any troubles.

Mehidy Hasan soon brought up only his second fifty, but the more significant milestone was to follow shortly later. Rahim got to his double hundred with a pull to deep square leg, and he didn't try to disguise his thrill over it. In doing so, he became the first wicket-keeper in the history of Test cricket to score two double tons. He was also in sights of the Bangladesh record for highest individual score – held by Shakib Al Hasan for his 217 in New Zealand in early 2017. Rahim knocked off those runs in little time and then the declaration came.

By the end of it, Rahim had batted 421 deliveries, also surpassing the Mohammad Ashraful's record of 417 for the lengthiest innings in terms of balls faced for Bangladesh. Having batted 537 minutes, it was also the longest innings in terms of duration, leaving behind Animul Islam's record of 535 minutes.

With the declaration, Bangladesh left Zimbabwe a little more than half a session to play out. Hamilton Masakadza and Brian Chari had plenty of nervy moments, including a close couple of lbw calls, one of which was reviewed by Bangladesh, and was not out only on umpire's call. Once left-arm spinner Taijul Islam came on, the uncertainties grew, and Masakadza was soon to nick one to first slip, falling for 14.

Chari and Donal Tiripano, the nightwatchman, did well to take Zimbabwe to stumps without further casualty, the score at 25 runs. Zimbabwe's batsmen will have to apply themselves very well on the third day if they are to come close to clearing out the remaining 496-run deficit.