IN VAIN: Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza’s unbeaten 111 went in vain as Bangladesh won the second Test by 143 runs to even the two-Test series at one-all, in Harare yesterday. (AFP)

AFP/Harare


Hamilton Masakadza’s determined unbeaten 111 went in vain as Bangladesh wrapped up only their fourth Test win yesterday to earn a share of a two-match series with Zimbabwe.
Masakadza held off the Bangladesh attack for more than six hours but lacked support at the other end, allowing the tourists to bowl Zimbabwe out for 257 and complete a 143-run victory at Harare Sports Club.
The home side went into the final day with six wickets intact and a slim chance of scoring the 263 runs still required to chase down a target of 401.
Although Masakadza gave Zimbabwe hope of avoiding defeat after seeing out a wicketless first hour with his younger brother, Shingirai, a double breakthrough quickly put the result beyond doubt.
The Masakadzas had thwarted Bangladesh’s bowlers for 119 minutes in total after coming together on the fourth evening but they were parted when Shingirai was trapped lbw by Mohammad Ashraful for 24.
With Elton Chigumbura soon falling lbw to Sohag Gazi and Ziaur Rahman claiming the wickets of Richmond Mutumbami and Graeme Cremer after lunch, the match only stretched into the second half of the day because of Masakadza.
“After such a huge defeat in the first Test the boys have come back well,” said Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim. “We were under big pressure before this game."

Scoreboard

Bangladesh (1st inngs)    391
Zimbabwe (1st inngs)    282
B'desh (2nd inngs)    291-9d
Zimbabwe (2nd inngs)
Sibanda c Sohag b Shakib    32
R Chakabva b Shakib    22
H Masakadza (not out)    111
B Taylor lbw Ziaur    10
M Waller b Ziaur    15
S Masakadza lbw Ashraful    24
C'bura c Robiul b Sohag    2
R Mutumbami b Ziaur    12
G Cremer c Nasir b Ziaur    3
K Meth lbw Robiul    4
K Jarvis lbw Shakib    7
Extras (b-4, lb-7, nb-4)    15
Total (all out, 95.3 overs)    257
Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Chakabva), 2-66 (Sibanda), 3-96 (Taylor), 4-118 (Waller), 5-164 (Masakadza), 6-169 (Chigumbura), 7-200 (Mutumbami), 8-214 (Cremer), 9-219 (Meth), 10-257 (Jarvis)
Bowling: Robiul 20-5-53-1; Sajidul 3-1-9-0; Shakib 11.3-0-52-3; Sohag 31-11-56-1; Ziaur 23-8-63-4;
Ashraful 7-1-13-1