Post match presentation
Taijul Islam will look to spearhead Bangladesh to a series-levelling win © AFP
Mahmudullah:Thank the boys for performing well, they showed the character. It's okay, we are still working hard and we need to look at that as well. Credit goes to Mushy and Mominul, the way they batted. Miraz scored some good runs. Taijul was excellent throughout the innings. I was struggling a bit. I still need to prove a bit more for myself as well as for my team. I would like to thank the crowd. Thank you all.
Mushfiqur Rahim, Player of the Match: We badly needed this. They (Zimbabwe) played well in the first Test and even in this Test. I knew that, it was really important to bat well in the first innings. All the bowlers bowled really well. Our records at home - we have dominated across all formats. They (spinners) have been amazing. It's really great, hopefully they continue the good work.
Hamilton Masakadza:Pretty proud of the way our players came and played. Pleased with the way the boys showed character. That was world class from Brendan. He really showed the boys the way to go. The seamers bowled really well too, got wickets upfront with the new ball every time. There's always points to learn. Second session on the first day, that really put us behind. But it was a really good performance in the series.
Taylor's brilliance in vain
Hope is an act of faith which stimulates expectations and goals. The hope that one fine day all the hard work and toil will lead to success. On Day five of the second and final Test of the series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the visitors started the day with the hope of saving the Test and and in turn posting their first Test series win away from home since 2001. But despite Brendan Taylor's brilliance (106*), their hopes were dashed by Mehidy Hasan's five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe slid to a 218-run defeat. On the other hand, after losing the first Test, the home side would be thrilled with their fine comeback to level the rubber 1-1.
It was Taylor who carried Zimbabwe's batting on his shoulders on the final day. When the day began, he had the experienced Sean Williams for company. However, after surviving the initial phase, Williams was done in by a fine delivery from Mustafizur Rahman that jagged back in to castle the off stump, Williams paid the price for hanging back and playing inside the line.
Sikandar Raza didn't last long and at 120 for 4, Zimbabwe were in a spot of bother. Taylor needed support from the other end. At that crucial stage, Peter Moor, who played a gutsy knock of 83 in the first essay, backed up the seasoned batsman with a resolute hand of 13 off 79 balls. The odd ball jumped up and turned away from the right-handed batsmen while a couple of them kept low. However, the duo was able to wade through such phases.
Taylor also employed the sweep, reverse sweep and flick to compose a well measured fifty. After the Tea break, when Mominul Haque, the part-timer, was introduced, he landed a couple of lofts into the stands. However, Bangladesh's spinners were relentless and eventually, Mehidy provided the breakthrough by removing Moor. The Zimbabwe batsman played down the wrong line and eked out an edge to Imrul Kayes at leg gully who pouched a sharp catch.
The wicket of Moor opened the floodgates for Bangladesh to run through the cream of the lower order. Regis Chakabva, the 'keeper, was run out on the back of a terrible mix up, while Mehidy accounted for Donald Tiripano's wicket. Despite losing partners at the other end, Taylor stood firm and soon reached his second hundred of the Test with a nudge into the on side.
With that brilliant effort, Taylor became the first cricketer from Zimbabwe to score a Test hundred in each innings away from home. It was an innings where he showcased the required temperament and technique. He also played some eye-catching strokes. Unfortunately for him, Zimbabwe continued to slide as Mehidy took the scalps of Brandon Mavuta and Kyle Jarvis to provide the finishing touches. Tendai Chatara didn't come out to bat due to his injury as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 224 in the second innings.
Bangladesh's Test win was set up on Day 1 and Day 2 when Mushfiqur Rahim composed an impressive double century and also strung together a stand of 266 with Mominul to help the hosts recover from a precarious 26 for 4. With Bangladesh notching up 522 for 7 declared in their first innings, the spinners - Taijul Islam and Mehidy - had ample time and runs on the board to work their way through Zimbabwe's batting in both innings. Mehidy and Taijul duly bowled with persistence and skill to pilot the home side to a well-earned victory.
Taylor's brilliance!!
Take a bow, Brendan Taylor!! After cracking a hundred in the first innings, the veteran batsman composed his second century of the Test. He has played with determination and self belief. He has showcased the required technique and batting aptitude to survive the conditions. He removed the helmet to soak in the applause.
Unfortunately for him, rest of the batters haven't supported him in the second essay. Mavuta was the latest one to to be dismissed, attempting a rather curious sweep shot. Eight down...
The collapse
And the slide continued. Mehidy extracted turn and bounce, with Tiripano edging it to leg gully where Liton took a sharp catch. Remember, Chatara may not bat. So Bangladesh are perhaps just two wickets away.
Now a mix up
Oh, now a run out in the mix. When a team is looking for a draw, not sure batsmen need to pinch risky singles. Chakabva called for a single after Taylor knocked one to mid wicket, but there wasn't a run. Mominul ushered in a good throw and Chakabva found himself short with Rahim whipping the bails off. Terrible mix up.
And the breakthrough comes...
There were a couple of edges and some near misses. Bangladesh, though, were kept waiting by the resolute pair of Taylor and Moor. The hosts were getting a bit desperate too. But just in the nick of time, Mehidy induced Moor to edge one to FSL where Kayes pouched the catch. Moor played down the wrong line and with hard hands.
Huge wicket for the Asian nation as the pair of Moor and Taylor had stonewalled Bangladesh's spinners for almost 25 overs.
More frustration for Bangladesh
After the break too Taylor and Moor frustrated Bangladesh's bowlers. In the first 5 overs, only one run was scored but the duo showed the required temperament to paddle through that phase. Finally, Mominul, the part timer, bowled a full toss and Taylor took a toll of it with a boundary. He also smacked the part timer for another six in his next over. Excellent batting.
Taylor revives Zimbabwe
Brendan Taylor (54*) glued Zimbabwe's innings together on the final day to give the visitors renewed hope of saving the second Test versus Bangladesh at Lunch in Dhaka.
At the start of the day, the Zimbabwe camp would have pinned their hopes on Taylor and Sean Williams stitching a substantial stand. However, after surviving the initial phase, Williams fell to Mustafizur Rahman. The southpaw batsman played back and inside the line to the one that jagged back in to knock over the off stump.
Taylor, who initially survived a scare when he mistimed the loft, then looked to steer Zimbabwe to safer waters in the company of Sikandar Raza. In search of wickets, Bangladesh even took a review against Taylor for an LBW, but weren't successful in overturning it. It was Taijul who provided the breakthrough by dislodging Raza. The all rounder, who had cracked a pull stroke in the previous over bowled by Khaled, tried to flick Taijul but could only eke out a leading edge back to the bowler.
Despite losing his batting partner, Taylor continued to blend caution with aggression to keep the scorecard moving over. He employed the sweep, reverse sweep and flick to counter Bangladesh's spinners. He soon completed his fifty with his trademark sweep shot. Peter Moor, who compiled a fine hand of 83 in the first essay, also played with a degree of confidence as the duo guided the visiting side to the break.
Just about 15 minutes before the break, Taijul got one to angle in from wide of the crease that bounced awkwardly in addition to considerable turn. In the very next over, Moor just about kept out a delivery from Mahmudullah that stayed low. So there is enough help for spinners on the final day and Zimbabwe's batsmen have an uphill task in front of them to save the Test and post their first Test series win away from home since 2001.
Four down
Raza looked to take the aggressive route and even cracked the pull off Khaled. However, in an attempt to play the flick, he then eked out a leading edge off Taijul and the left-arm spinner pouched the return catch. Not surprisingly, Raza was disappointed with himself. Bangladesh now need six more wickets.
Mustafizur to the fore
And Bangladesh have picked the vital scalp of Williams. It was Mustafizur who made the crucial incision. It was a very good delivery too as it cut back sharply to shatter the timber. Williams was playing back and inside the line, and paid the price.
Solid start
Taylor and Williams made a steady start on the crucial day. Both of them looked relatively comfortable. Taylor also cracked a fine drive off Taijul. The veteran, though, had one scare when he mistimed a loft and the fielder at deep(ish) mid on almost pouched it.
Mahmudullah putting his thinking cap on. He has set some inventive fields today.
Build Up:
Eight wickets to get for Bangladesh and level the series at 1-1. 90 overs to bat and secure a draw, and register a memorable series victory for Zimbabwe. There is a lot at stake for both teams. The visitors haven't won an away series (Tests) since 2001. And the home side wouldn't want to slide to a series defeat in their own backyard.
Zimbabwe would depend on the core of the middle order - Taylor, Williams, Moor and Raza - to play the bulk of the overs. Meanwhile, Taijul will again be the bedrock of Bangladesh's attack. The left-arm spinner has taken three successive five-wicket hauls in the series so far. Mehidy Hasan too has bowled with penetration. The Bangladesh camp also would hope for a better fielding effort on the crucial day. Just like Zimbabwe, the hosts have dropped more than a few catches in the Test match so far.
We will have all the action in a while from what should turn out to be an exciting day's play.