Bangladesh win 2nd Test, level series

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/HarareHamilton 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."

ScoreboardBangladesh (1st inngs)    391Zimbabwe (1st inngs)    282B'desh (2nd inngs)    291-9dZimbabwe (2nd inngs)Sibanda c Sohag b Shakib    32R Chakabva b Shakib    22H Masakadza (not out)    111B Taylor lbw Ziaur    10M Waller b Ziaur    15S Masakadza lbw Ashraful    24C'bura c Robiul b Sohag    2R Mutumbami b Ziaur    12G Cremer c Nasir b Ziaur    3K Meth lbw Robiul    4K Jarvis lbw Shakib    7Extras (b-4, lb-7, nb-4)    15Total (all out, 95.3 overs)    257Fall 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