Published: Apr 18, 2013, 01:54 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 18, 2013, 01:54 PM (IST)
Brendan Taylor is unbeaten on 105. Earlier he took Zimbabwe from 65 for three early in the second session to 217 for four at the close of play © AFP
Harare: Apr 18, 2013
Zimbabwean skipper Brendan Taylor smashed unbeaten century after the hosts lost their openers early in the match in the first Test against Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Robiul Islam struck twice before lunch on Day One to remove the openers. Later on, Taylor put Zimbabwe’s problems aside as he scored 105 not out and took his side from 65 for three early in the second session to 217 for four at the close of play.
Although on the low side, Zimbabwe’s total represented a reasonable day’s work for the hosts after they were inserted on a greentop by Bangladesh, who lacked the fast bowling arsenal to take full advantage.
Although Enamul Haque had Hamilton Masakadza caught at slip 10 overs after the lunch break to leave Zimbabwe in a spot of bother, Taylor was joined by Malcolm Waller and the pair put on 127 for the fourth wicket.
Both batsmen took their time to adjust to the pace of the pitch in the afternoon, before gradually lifting Zimbabwe’s lethargic run-rate in the third session.
Taylor offered just a single chance on the way to his third Test century, when he lofted Enamul to wide long-off where Shahriar Nafees failed to take a difficult catch on the run.
The partnership was finally broken by the second new ball, with Waller bowled for 55 by Rubel Hossain, who was then denied the wicket of Elton Chigumbura when replays suggested the bowler had overstepped.
In between those incidents Taylor went to three figures with a distinctive fist-pumping celebration that told of his recent frustrations.
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 217 for 4 (Brendan Taylor 105*, Malcolm Waller 55; Robiul Islam 2 for 56, Rubel Hossain 1 for 42) vs Bangladesh
Catch live scores of the second day’s play of the opening Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh here
