Dhaka: Bangladesh bowlers have to snap up eight wickets on the fifth and final day to win the second game and level the two-match Test series against visiting Zimbabwe at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. 

Zimbabwe required another 367 runs on Thursday’s three sessions in the second innings for a 2-0 overseas series victory, since November 2001. The visitors took the 1-0 lead in the series with a 151-run win in Sylhet Test, which ended on day four on November 6, reports the UNB. 

The Zimbabweans were at stumps 76/2* in 30 overs in the second innings after the penultimate day’s game on Wednesday. 

Brendan Taylor [4* off 21b] and Sean Williams [2* off 9b] were at the crease in the third stand in a precarious situation of the visitors, and the odds are in Bangladesh’s favour. 

Zimbabwe opened the innings in the day’s third session and made a bit good start with their opening pair figure of 68 off 23 overs between skipper Hamilton Masakadza and Brian Chari. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz sent off H Masakadza [25 off 68b; 1x4] to break the opening stand before Taijul Islam dismissed B Chari [43 off 82b; 3x4; 1x6] by lbw on 70/2 in 25.4 overs. 

With their one-wicket haul each in the ongoing second innings, Taijul bagged six wickets while Miraz four in the match till date. 

Earlier, Bangladesh declared the second innings at tea break with a 442-run lead, widening it from overnight score of 218. 

The host side declared both the innings of the match - 224/6-d in the second innings and 522/7-d in the first innings—putting up a world record chase to Zimbabwe. 

In Bangladesh’s second innings, skipper Mahmudullah Riyad [101* off  122b; 4x4; 2x6] hit his second Test century while Mohammad Mithun [67 off 110b; 4x4; 1x6] hit a half century on his Test debut. 

Mahmudullah and Mithun also recovered Bangladesh’s dismal top-order collapse, sharing a partnership figure of 108 off 27.1 over in the fifth stand, which started from 25/4 in 12.1 overs.

Mithun was sliced off from the fifth stand at 143/5 in 39.2 overs, being caught behind by Regis Chakabva off Sikandar Raza. 

Mahmudullah continued till the end of the innings alongside sharing another partnership figure of 73* off 11.4 overs in the 7th stand with Mehidy Hasan Miraz [27* off 34b; 2x4] for the day’s total.

Mahmudullah took two runs off Zimbabwean spin all-rounder Brandon Mavuta to cross the 100-run mark. He broke the century drought of eight years for him as he saw his career first Test century [115 off 177b; 17x4; 2x6] against New Zealand in a one off away match at Seddon Park in Hamilton in February 2010. 

Kyle Jarvis [2/27] and Donald Tiripano [2/31] equally shared four wickets while Sikandar Raza[1/39] and Sean Williams[1/69] shared two for Zimbabwe. 

Bangladesh did not put Zimbabwe [304/10 in first innings] on follow-on, aiming to provide their bowlers a bit rest ahead of 10-wicket mission for the win, and opened the second innings with bat in the morning. 

Brief Score:
Bangladesh 1st innings: 522/7-d in 160 overs; Mushfiqur Rahim 219 , Mominul Haque 161, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 68, Mahmudullah Riyad 36; Kyle Jarvis 5/71, Tendai Chatara 1/34, Donald Tiripano 1/65.

Bangladesh 2nd innings: 224/6-d in 54 overs; Mohammad Mithun 67,  Mahmudullah 101*, Kyle Jarvis 2/27, Donald Tiripano 2/31, Sikandar Raza 1/39, Sean Williams 1/69.  

Zimbabwe 1st innings: 304/10 in 105.3 overs (Overnight); Brendan Taylor 110, Peter Moor 83, Brian Chari 53, Taijul Islam 5/107, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3/61, Ariful Haque 1/10.

Zimbabwe 2nd innings: 76/2* in 30 overs, at stumps, Brendan Taylor 4*, Sean Williams 2*, Brian Chari 43, Hamilton Masakadza 25, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1/16, Taijul Islam 1/34.