2 weeks Ago
Report Shanto's unbeaten half-century stretches Bangladesh's lead on rain-hit day He made use of the life he got when on 26 to put Bangladesh 112 ahead despite Muzarabani's three strikes on a 44-over day Mohammad Isam 22-Apr-2025 • 17 mins ago Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a steady fifty to help Bangladesh take lead • AFP/Getty Images {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://img1.hscicdn.
com/image/upload/f_auto/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/399600/399667.4.jpg","caption":"Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a steady fifty to help Bangladesh take lead"} Bangladesh 191 and 194 for 4 (Shanto 60*, Jaker 21*, Muzarabani 3-51) lead Zimbabwe 273 (Williams 59, Bennett 57, Mehidy 5-52) by 112 runs Rain had a major say on the third day's play of the Sylhet Test.
Bangladesh moved to 194 for 4 before play was called off at 5:00pm due to bad light. The truncated day was supposed to end at 6:00pm after rain washed out the first three hours of play. The home side could bat for only 44 overs on the day.
They lost three wickets and added 137 runs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto reached a half-century, as he is putting up a rear-guard partnership with Jaker Ali for the fifth wicket. It was Blessing Muzarabani who rocked Bangladesh within the first hour after play started on the third afternoon.
He bowled within himself with a slower run-up but often brought up his pace with the short deliveries. He tested Mahmudul Hasan Joy with the short ball a few times, before the Bangladesh opener fended one to first slip. Mahmudul made 33 off 65 balls with six boundaries, stretching his lean run of form.
He has now played 17 innings without a half-century, the last one coming in Sylhet in November 2023. Shanto got the ball rolling with some confident shots before he edged one off Wessly Madhevere when on 26. For the second time in the game though, wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo dropped a sitter.
Blessing Muzarabani picked up three wickets on the third day • AFP/Getty Images {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://img1.hscicdn.
com/image/upload/f_auto/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/399600/399669.4.jpg","caption":"Blessing Muzarabani picked up three wickets on the third day"} The third-wicket stand between Shanto and Mominul Haque kept Bangladesh stable, but once again it was the short ball that rocked Bangladesh.
Victor Nyauchi got one to rear up Mominul, who had little room to move out of the way once he had committed to it. Thankfully for Zimbabwe, Mayavo held on the chance and they celebrated the third wicket. Shanto and Mominul had added 65 for the third wicket.
Mominul made 47 off 86 balls to go with his half-century in the first innings, both being underwhelming efforts from the dependable left-hander. Captain Craig Ervine then brought back Muzarabani to bowl at Mushfiqur Rahim closer to the tea interval. He bowled nine dot balls in a row to Mushfiqur before finding the outside edge with the tenth delivery.
Ervine completed the catch at first slip as Bangladesh were reduced to 155 for 4 at tea. Shanto reached his fifty shortly afterwards with a rousing cover drive off Wellington Masakadza. His fifth-wicket partnership with Jaker is increasingly looking like Bangladesh's last resort to stay competitive in the game.
Najmul Hossain Shanto Blessing Muzarabani Victor Nyauchi Bangladesh Zimbabwe Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Zimbabwe tour of Bangladesh Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84 Get latest cricket updates on WhatsApp.
