Zimbabwe on top after 16 wickets tumble

Hosts in driving seat in first Test against Bangladesh.

HARARE: Bangladesh will need to produce a record fourth-innings total to beat Zimbabwe in the first Test after 16 wickets tumbled on the third day.

Bangladesh, replying to the home team's 389, lost their last five wickets for no run as they were skittled out for 134 before Zimbabwe stretched their huge lead to 442 by reaching the close on 187 for seven.

Paceman Robiul Islam gave the visitors hope by claiming the first six wickets in Zimbabwe's second innings before captain Brendan Taylor (81*) and Graeme Cremer (43) shared a stand of 79.

Shingi Masakadza, 26, playing in his second Test, took four for 32 and fellow seamer Kyle Jarvis returned figures of four for 40.

Bangladesh battled their way to 134 for five before their last five batsmen all fell in the space of 20 balls. Zimbabwe decided not to enforce the follow-on but Robiul ripped through their top order in a marathon 13-over opening spell.

Taylor then steadied the ship, just as he had in the first innings with a patient 171, and Bangladesh will now need to eclipse the world record of 418 that West Indies managed against Australia in 2003.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2013.