Zimbabwe well-placed in Test

Bangladesh lost three wickets in the space of 11 balls after lunch to hand Zimbabwe control of the second Test in Harare on Friday.

At the close on day two, the home side were 110 runs behind on 144 for two in reply to Bangladesh's first innings of 254. Stuart Carlisle was 21 not out with Alistair Campbell on 22.

Bangladesh resumed on 198 for six and reached lunch on 253 for seven. Akram Khan and Enamul Hoque shared 46 runs for the eighth wicket before Khan edged the third ball after lunch, bowled by fast bowler Heath Streak, gently to Campbell at first slip to be out for 44.

Six balls later, Mohammad Sharif, on nought, nicked a delivery from fast bowler Brighton Watambwa to Carlisle at second slip. Two balls after that, Manjural Islam steered a catch to first slip Carlisle to also go for a duck.

Streak finished with four for 38, and left-arm spinner Ray Price with four for 71.

The first Bangladesh wicket to fall on Friday went down in the sixth over of the morning when Mushfiqur Rahman edged an away swinger from Streak and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Andy Flower for two.

Guy Whittall and Dion Ebrahim put on 90 in a solid opening stand for Zimbabwe before hesitation cost Whittall his wicket. He was run out for 59 by Mohammad Sharif's throw from mid-off to the wicketkeeper's end.

Whittall was at the crease for two hours, faced 103 balls and hit four fours.

Ebrahim went 10 overs later for 39 when he swept off-spinner Naimur Rahman's fourth ball of the match to Khan at leg gullly.

Mail Cricket Editor