Zimbabwe face mammoth task
Zimbabwe reached 71 for the loss of one wicket on the fourth day of the final Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong, after the hosts declared their second innings with a lead of 449 runs.
Resuming their second innings score on 23 without loss, the Tigers were propped by an unbeaten knock of 131 by Mominul Haque, as the hosts declared their score on 319 for five shortly shortly after the tea break on the penultimate day.
Haque was ably assisted by opener Tamim Iqbal, who made 65 before he inexplicably played back to a Natsai M'shangwe delivery and was promptly bowled.
Number three batsman Mahmudullah scored 30 and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim a quick-fire 46, but both players lost their wickets in search of quick runs with a declaration on the cards.
To Zimbabwe's credit, they bowled and batted amicably in conditions that don't suit them, but it seems unlikely that they will be able to bat out the final day without losing the nine wickets they have in hand.
After the early loss of Brian Chari – dismissed leg-before by Rubel Hossain, opener Sikandar Raza (43 not out) and Hamilton Masakadza (26 not out) batted out the remaining 17 overs to give Zimbabwe a change to avoid a whitewash in the series.
Bangladesh won the first two matches of the series and a victory in Chittagong will provide them with their first ever Test series whitewash.
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