Whittall puts Zimbabwe on top

A century by Guy Whittall guided Zimbabwe to a lead of 30 runs on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Bulawayo on Friday.

At the close, Zimbabwe were 287 for five in reply to Bangladesh's first innings 257. Heath Streak was 25 not out with Grant Flower, dropped on 24 by Manjural Islam at mid-on off captain and spinner Naimur Rahman, on 30.

Whittall's 119 was his fourth Test century, while Andy Flower's 73 equalled the world record of seven consecutive Test half-centuries set by West Indian Everton Weekes between 1947 and 1949.

Whittall batted for more than four hours, facing 194 balls and hitting 16 fours. Andy Flower struck 13 fours during his two-and-a-half-hour stay at the crease and faced 133 deliveries.

Debutant left-arm paceman Manjural Islam kept an immaculate line and length throughout his 21 overs to take three for 57.

Opener Whittall had two close shaves on 79. First, he cut hard at a delivery from off-spinner Rahman and was dropped by wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud.

He was then adjudged not out by television umpire Chuck Coventry after Manjural Islam's throw from the gully seemed to break the wicket with the diving Whittall's bat on the line.

Whittall and Andy Flower put on 149 runs for the fourth wicket, but both went after tea without taking full advantage of Bangladesh's limited attack on a sound batting pitch.

Five balls into the third session of the day, Andy Flower lifted a tame drive off Manjural Islam to offer a simple catch to Naimur Rahman in the covers.

Whittall was dismissed 35 minutes after tea when his on-drive from medium pacer Hasibul Hussain looped gently to Mohammed Sharif at mid-on.

Whittall and Flower rebuilt an innings that had stumbled to 66 for three in the 14th over.

Debutant opener Dion Ebrahim scored two before he became Manjural Islam's first test victim when he edged a catch behind to Khaled Mashud.

Stuart Carlisle then went for three when he dragged Manjural Islam's next delivery onto his stumps as Zimbabwe slid to 27 for two.

Nine overs later Alistair Campbell, on 19, top-edged a hook off medium pacer Mohammed Sharif to Khaled Mashud.

Bangladesh began the day on 256 for nine and were all out 13 balls later when Sharif, who had yet to score, edged a drive off fast bowler Andy Blignaut to Campbell at first slip.

Blignaut's figures of five for 73 were the best returned by a Zimbabwean on his Test debut.

Mail Cricket Editor