Zimbabwe was left with a steep climb to save the one-off Test as they slipped to 114 for 5 at lunch on the fourth day in Dhaka. After starting on 9 for 2, the visitors lost Brendan Taylor, Kevin Kasuza and the first-innings centurion Craig Ervine to a needless run out to sink further.
The opening with three maidens and the outcome came in the sixth over as Taijul Islam had Kasuza grabbed at gully. Zimbabwe was 15 for 3 and banking on the experience of Ervine and Taylor to fight back. Taylor’s shocking shot – in the 17th over of the innings – left them 44 for 4 as the former captain fell for 17 off 47. Taylor tried to play a slog sweep against Nayeem Hasan and was caught at long-leg after getting a top-edge.
Ervine was adventurous while Raza was happy to block the challenges that came his way. After striking six boundaries, he nonchalantly lofted Nayeem over long-off for a six to make a statement. The duo continued their collaboration to 60 but thrown a wicket to Bangladesh with less than five minutes to go for the break. The Zimbabwe captain was late to respond to a call from Raza and was knocked over by a direct hit from Mominul Haque.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 265 & 114/5 (Craig Ervine 43; Nayeem Hasan 3-44) trail Bangladesh 560/6 dec (Musfiqur Rahim 203*, Mominul Haque 132) by 181 runs
